Ivory Coast · Overview
The legal system of Ivory Coast
A French-tradition civil-law system and the seat of OHADA's Common Court of Justice and Arbitration in Abidjan, which makes it the practical centre of gravity for francophone African commercial litigation. The 2016 constitution created a Senate and a formal Chamber of Kings and Traditional Chiefs.
Legal tradition
Ivory Coast belongs to the civil law (french tradition) tradition. A French-tradition civil-law system and the seat of OHADA's Common Court of Justice and Arbitration in Abidjan, which makes it the practical centre of gravity for francophone African commercial litigation. The 2016 constitution created a Senate and a formal Chamber of Kings and Traditional Chiefs.
How power is divided
Presidential system with a Vice-President and Prime Minister, a bicameral Parliament of National Assembly and Senate, and a judiciary headed by the Cour de cassation, Conseil d'État and Cour des comptes after the 2018 reorganisation.
Where law comes from
- Constitution
- Supreme domestic norm.
- OHADA Uniform Acts
- Directly applicable; the CCJA sits in Abidjan.
- Treaties
- Superior to ordinary statutes on ratification and publication.
- Laws and ordinances
- Parliamentary statutes and presidential ordinances.
- Codes
- Civil, penal, criminal procedure, labour, and the 1998 rural land law.
- Customary law
- Recognised in land tenure and personal matters within statutory limits.
The legal profession
Avocats admitted through the Barreau de Côte d'Ivoire; notaires, huissiers and commissaires-priseurs are separate ministerial officers.
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