Côte d’Ivoire’s governance progress hailed by African peer review mechanism
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Africa’s premier governance assessment tool established by the African Union, has commended Côte d’Ivoire for its strides in political stability, economic transformation, and institutional reforms.
Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, Director-General of the APRM Continental Secretariat, highlighted the country’s remarkable achievements during an official working visit to Abidjan on July 21, 2026. Her assessment followed meetings at the APRM National Commission’s headquarters in the Cocody district.
“Côte d’Ivoire has demonstrated outstanding commitment to deepening political stability, driving economic growth, advancing institutional reforms, and strengthening regional leadership. These milestones lay a robust foundation for its second-generation peer evaluation,” Rose-Quatre stated confidently.
An opportunity for reflection and progress
She emphasized that Côte d’Ivoire’s second-generation evaluation is far more than a routine assessment. “This process represents a pivotal strategic moment for the country to assess its progress since its first evaluation, pinpoint emerging governance challenges, and showcase best practices that can inspire other African nations,” she explained.
The APRM, she noted, remains the continent’s leading governance instrument, operating on principles of voluntary participation, mutual learning, transparency, accountability, and peer evaluation. “Our role is not to judge, but to support nations in strengthening democracy, political governance, economic governance, corporate governance, and socio-economic development,” she added.
During her visit, Rose-Quatre and Côte d’Ivoire’s APRM National Commission reviewed the evaluation roadmap, identified pending preparations, and agreed on concrete steps to ensure a seamless and effective assessment process.
“The Continental Secretariat is fully committed to providing Côte d’Ivoire with the technical and institutional support it needs throughout this journey. We see this collaboration as a true partnership built on mutual trust, open dialogue, and our shared dedication to enhancing governance across Africa,” she affirmed.
A shared vision for governance-driven development
David Moussa Soro, President of Côte d’Ivoire’s APRM National Commission, underscored the country’s commitment to harnessing governance as a catalyst for development. “Good governance and development in Côte d’Ivoire march in lockstep,” he declared.
He shared details of two national initiatives designed to promote governance excellence: the Summer University for Good Governance, aimed at instilling governance values among the public, and a peer-reviewed academic journal on African integration and governance, aligned with the CAMES standards. “The Summer University brings governance education directly to communities, while our journal provides scholars with a platform to publish research on governance issues,” he explained.
Soro reaffirmed the National Commission’s readiness to collaborate closely with the Continental Secretariat throughout the evaluation process.On July 22, 2026, Rose-Quatre was received by the Ivorian Senate and later met with Nialé Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss further collaboration.
APRM: A voluntary path to sustainable progress
The APRM, launched in 2003, is a voluntary agreement among African states to evaluate and enhance governance under the leadership of heads of state. Its mission is to promote political stability, economic integration, sustainable growth, and inclusive development across the continent.
