African Peer Review Mechanism commends Côte d’Ivoire’s progress in governance and institutional reforms

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

During an official visit to Abidjan on July 21, 2026, Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, Director-General of the APRM Continental Secretariat, highlighted the country’s achievements as a solid foundation for its upcoming second-generation peer review. Her remarks came at the conclusion of a working session with the National APRM Commission in Cocody, eastern Abidjan.

A commitment to continuous improvement and regional leadership

“We commend Côte d’Ivoire for its significant efforts in consolidating political stability, driving economic transformation, advancing institutional reforms, and demonstrating strong regional leadership,” stated Rose-Quatre. “These accomplishments provide a robust framework for evaluating progress in our second-generation assessment.”

She emphasized that the second-generation country review is not merely an evaluation exercise but a strategic opportunity for Côte d’Ivoire to assess progress since its first review, identify emerging governance challenges, and showcase best practices that could inspire other African nations.

APRM’s role in fostering democratic and economic governance

The APRM, founded on principles of voluntary participation, mutual learning, transparency, accountability, and peer evaluation, remains Africa’s leading instrument for governance assessment. Its mission is not to judge but to support countries in strengthening democracy, political governance, economic governance, corporate governance, and socio-economic development.

During her visit, Rose-Quatre outlined the Continental Secretariat’s plan to collaborate closely with Côte d’Ivoire to finalize the evaluation roadmap, address remaining preparatory steps, and ensure the smooth launch of the assessment process. “Our engagement with Côte d’Ivoire reflects a true partnership built on trust, dialogue, and a shared commitment to improving governance across our continent,” she affirmed.

National initiatives to promote good governance

David Moussa Soro, President of Côte d’Ivoire’s National APRM Commission, underscored the institution’s dedication to aligning governance with national development goals. “In Côte d’Ivoire, governance and development walk hand in hand,” he noted.

He highlighted two key national initiatives: the Summer University for Good Governance, designed to instill governance values among the population, and a scientific journal on African integration and governance, aimed at the academic community. The latter provides a platform for scholarly publication on governance issues in line with the CAMES protocol.

Soro also reaffirmed the National APRM Commission’s readiness to support the Continental Secretariat throughout the review process.

The subsequent day, Rose-Quatre was scheduled to meet with Côte d’Ivoire’s Senate and hold discussions with Nialé Kaba, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, as part of ongoing diplomatic and governance exchanges.

APRM: a voluntary framework for sustainable progress

Established in 2003, the African Peer Review Mechanism is a voluntary agreement among African states to evaluate and enhance governance at the highest levels. Its objectives include promoting political stability, economic integration, sustainable growth, and long-term development across the continent.