Ivory Coast  

Published in June 2025

International and regional conventions:

• United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003) ratified on October 14^th, 2004
• African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption ratified on September (2003) 20^th, 2007
• Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ratified on December 14^th, 1995
• ECOWAS Protocol on the fight against corruption (2001)

Legislation:

• Constitution de Côte d’Ivoire
  • Article 18 “Citizens have the right to information and access to public documents, under the conditions provided by law”
  • Article 19 “Freedom of thought and freedom of expression […] , are guaranteed to all.”
• Labour Code 
• Penal Code 

Measures related to the protection of whistleblowers:

• Loi du 13 juin 2018 relative à la Protection des témoins, victimes, dénonciateurs, experts et autres personnes concernées 

Financial crimes

• Loi n°20186573 du 13 juin 2018 portant régime juridique du gel des avoirs illicites 
• Ordonnance n°2013-660 du 20 septembre 2013 portant prévention et lutte contre la corruption et les infractions assimilées

 Media and freedom of information

• Loi du 27 décembre 2017 portant régime juridique de la communication audiovisuelle 
• Loi du 14 décembre 2004 portant régime juridique de la presse 
• Loi du 23 décembre 2013 relative à l’accès à l’information d’intérêt public 

Institutions:

• Agence de Gestion et de Recouvrement des avoirs criminels
  • Décret numéro 2022-349 du 1er juin 2022 déterminant les attributions, l’organisation et le fonctionnement de l’Agence de Gestion et de Recouvrement des Avoirs Criminels
• La Plateforme nationale du Système de Prévention et de Détection des Actes de Corruption et Infractions assimilées 

Programs and policies:

• Initiative pour la Justice Sociale, la Transparence et la Bonne Gouvernance (Social Justice),

This new dynamic was initiated under the leadership of the High Authority for Good Governance (HABG) and the Ministry for the Promotion of Good Governance. Confronted with the limitations of the existing framework — notably Law No. 2018-570, which primarily protects witnesses and informants within a judicial context — the Ivorian authorities recognised the urgent need for legislation specifically addressing whistleblowers. 

Starting in 2022, several awareness-raising and training workshops were organised for magistrates, journalists, law enforcement officers, and members of civil society. These initiatives aimed to familiarise key stakeholders with the concept of whistleblowing, encourage the reporting of corruption, and prepare the groundwork for a substantial legislative reform. 

• Regional Anti-Corruption Platform for West Africa and the Sahel

Law proposals:

In 2023, this political commitment was further demonstrated through the launch of a series of national consultations. The HABG, supported by international organisations such as the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), began drafting a specific whistleblower protection bill. Simultaneously, the HABG introduced a secure online platform that enables citizens to report corruption anonymously. Although this platform represented a significant step forward, it remained insufficient without a solid legal framework offering formal protection against retaliation.

The year 2024 marked a decisive phase in the process. In July, the HABG organised a major national workshop, bringing together public institutions, civil society organisations, legal experts, magistrates, and technical partners, to finalise the key components of the future protection system. This effort culminated in the inclusion of whistleblower protection as a priority within the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024–2028. The strategy explicitly calls for the adoption of a specific law and the establishment of concrete mechanisms such as enhanced anonymity measures, physical protection protocols, and legal assistance for whistleblowers.

As of April 2025, although the final law has not yet been adopted, the draft legislation is in its final stages. The political climate remains favourable, driven by the government’s stated commitment to improving administrative transparency and strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s standing in international governance rankings. Nonetheless, several challenges persist: the continued fear of retaliation, the need to further raise public awareness about ethical reporting, and the critical importance of ensuring the independence and effectiveness of bodies tasked with receiving and handling whistleblower reports.

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