Côte d’Ivoire’s governance reforms earn praise from African peer assessment body

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Africa’s premier governance assessment instrument established by the African Union, has commended Côte d’Ivoire for its significant strides in political stability, economic transformation, and institutional reforms.

During a working visit to Abidjan’s Cocody district on July 21, 2026, Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, Director-General of the APRM Continental Secretariat, highlighted the country’s progress as a solid foundation for its upcoming second-generation country review.

“We commend Côte d’Ivoire’s remarkable efforts in consolidating political stability, driving economic transformation, and implementing institutional reforms. These achievements provide a robust platform for the second-generation evaluation,” Ms. Rose-Quatre stated.

The APRM Director-General emphasized that the second-generation evaluation represents more than just an assessment—it’s a strategic opportunity for Côte d’Ivoire to evaluate progress since its first review, pinpoint emerging governance challenges, and showcase best practices that could inspire other African nations.

The APRM operates on the principles of voluntarism, mutual learning, transparency, accountability, and peer evaluation. Its mission focuses on supporting countries in strengthening democratic governance, political administration, economic management, corporate governance, and socio-economic development—without judgment, but through constructive engagement.

During her visit, Ms. Rose-Quatre outlined plans to collaborate with Ivorian authorities on finalizing the evaluation roadmap, addressing pending preparations, and establishing concrete measures to ensure a smooth assessment process.

“Our Continental Secretariat remains fully committed to providing Côte d’Ivoire with the technical and institutional support needed throughout this process. This partnership is built on trust, dialogue, and our shared dedication to enhancing governance across the continent,” she affirmed.

Earlier, Pr David Moussa Soro, President of Côte d’Ivoire’s National APRM Commission, underscored the institution’s commitment to aligning governance with national development goals.

“In Côte d’Ivoire, governance and development walk hand in hand,” stated Pr Soro. “We have launched two national knowledge-sharing initiatives: the Summer University for Good Governance and a scientific journal on African integration and governance. The first aims to instill a culture of good governance at the grassroots level, while the second provides an academic platform for publishing research on governance in line with the CAMES protocol.”

Pr Soro reaffirmed the National Commission’s readiness to support the Continental Secretariat’s efforts, ensuring alignment with APRM’s broader objectives.

On July 22, 2026, Ms. Rose-Quatre is scheduled to meet with Côte d’Ivoire’s Senate and hold discussions with Nialé Kaba, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The APRM, established in 2003, is a voluntary agreement among African states to evaluate and enhance governance among heads of state. Its core objectives include promoting political stability, economic integration, sustainable growth, and long-term development.