Libya Flooding: Condolences and solidarity from the CJCA

The Supreme and Constitutional Courts, members of the Conference of African Constitutional Jurisdictions, learned with horror and sadness of the occurrence of floods caused by the storm “Daniel” that Libya experienced on September 10, which caused the death of thousands of people and the displacement of many of them in Libya.

On this painful occasion, the President of the Conference, H. E. Mr. Said IHRAI, the members of the Executive Bureau and the Secretary General, present to H. E. Mr. Abdullah Abu Raziza, President of the Supreme Court of Libya, to all judges, to the authorities and to the people Libyan people, their sincere condolences, and their deep sympathy in the face of this great tragedy.

They also express their deep sympathy and strong solidarity with the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Conference of African Constitutional Jurisdictions stands alongside Libya and its people in this ordeal and these difficult times.

Done in Algiers, September 17, 2023

Earthquake in Morocco: Condolences and solidarity from the CJCA

Following the devastating earthquake which claimed the lives of many victims in Morocco, the Supreme and Constitutional Courts members of the Conference of African Constitutional Jurisdictions, the Executive Bureau and the Permanent Secretariat of the CJCA, seize this painful and difficult ordeal to express their strong solidarity, their deep sympathy and their sincere condolences to Mr. Said IHRAI, President of the Constitutional Court of the Kingdom of Morocco, and current President of the Conference, to all the judges, to the Secretary General, and to all the employees of the Court, as well as all the authorities and the Moroccan people.

They express their support and sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Conference of African Constitutional Jurisdictions stands alongside Morocco in this ordeal and these difficult times.


Done in Algiers, September 10, 2023

Gabon: Dieudonné Aba’a Owono new president of the Transitional Constitutional Court

On September 6, 2023, the President of the Transition General Brice

Oligui Nguema appointed Mr Dieudonné Aba’A Owonola as head of the Transitional Constitutional Court, replacing Ms Marie Madeleine Mborantsuo in office since 1991.

Magistrate, former Commissioner General for Law deputy to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the new President of the Court, had been in office at the Council of State since 2022 as president of the chamber.

The President of the Transition also appointed the 8 other members of the Transitional Constitutional Court by province:

It is :

1-Estuary: Roger Patrice Nkoghe

2-Haut-Ogooué: Bruno Lependa

3-Middle-Ogooué: Hervé Tako Vendakambano

4-Ngounié: Christian Bignoumba Fernandez

5-Nyanga: Euloge Moussavou Bouassa Nzambi

6-Ogooué-Ivindo: Sosthene Momba

7-Ogooué-Lolo: Marie Blanche Bendje marries Babiri

8-Ogooué-Maritime: Afriquita Dolores Agondjo marries Banyena

9-Woleu-Ntem: Dieudonné Aba'A Oyono

The Constitutional Court of Gabon has been a member of the CJCA since its creation in 2011 in Algiers.

Congo: the new members of the Constitutional Court, officially installed.

Appointed by presidential decree on May 8, 2023, the nine members of the Constitutional Court were sworn in before Parliament meeting in congress on July 10 in Brazzaville.

On behalf of the President of the Republic, guarantor of the regular functioning of the public authorities, the Minister of State, Florent Ntsiba, reinstated Auguste Iloki as President of the Constitutional Court, as well as his Vice-President, Pierre Passi. He also installed the seven other members of this high institution in their functions. Of these seven members, there are five old and two new, notably Virginie Shéryl Ndessabeka and Albert Mbon.

The list of members of the Constitutional Court, according to their designation

President of the Republic: Auguste Iloki (president); Nadia Josiane Laure Macosso; Virginia Sheryl Nicole Ndessabeka.

President of the Senate: Pierre Passi (vice-president); Jacques Bombete.

President of the National Assembly: Marc Massamba Ndilou; Placid Moudoudou.

The Constitutional Court of Congo has been a founding member of the CJCA since its creation in 2011 in Algiers.

São Tomé and Príncipe: election of a new president of the Constitutional Court

Roberto Raposo was elected President of the Constitutional Court (TC) of São Tomé and Príncipe by his peers.

The election took place on June 22, 2023, after four new judges were sworn in before the Vice-President of the National Assembly.

Raposo was Attorney General of the Republic and also served as President of the Supreme Court of Justice.

Judge Kótia Menezes was elected vice-president of the TC.

Leopoldo Marques and Lucas Lima also took up their duties as judges of the TC, joining Judge Jusseley Patrik Lopes, the only one who remained in office after the entry into force of the new interpretative law of the judicial system, which requires the retirement of judges over the age of 62.

It should be noted that the TC of Sao Tome is a founding member of the CJCA, since its creation in 2011, in Algiers.

Benin: Swearing in of new judges of the Constitutional Court

The new members of the 7th mandate of the Constitutional Court of Benin, were sworn in, before the President of the Republic Patrice Talon, this Tuesday, June 06, 2023.

The new members, including two women, are Prof. Dorothé Cossi SOSSA, Aleyya GOUDA, Vincent Codjo ACAKPO (appointed by the Head of State), Nicolas ASSOGBA, Michel ADJAKA, Mathieu ADJOVI and Prof. Dandi GNAMOU (appointed by the President of Assembly)

Mr SOSSA was elected new President of the Court, replacing Razak YOUSSOUFA and Mr Nicolas ASSOGBA, Vice President.

The new president is a lawyer, agrégé in private law, and a graduate of the universities of Abomey-Calavi, Laval and Ottawa.

Former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (2001-2003), former Keeper of the Seals2, Minister of Justice, Legislation and Human Rights (2003-2006) of the Republic of Benin, former Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Abomey-Calavi (2006-2010).

The CC of Benin is a founding member of the CJCA, since its creation in Algiers in 2011.

Iraq: Visit of the President of the Federal Supreme Court to the headquarters of the CJCA

The President of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court, the Honorable Judge JASSEM Mohamed Abboud and the delegation accompanying him, paid a visit to the headquarters of the Conference of African Constitutional Jurisdictions in Algiers, where they were received by Counselor Moussa Laraba, Secretary General of the organization, who gave them explanations on its functioning and its attributions.

On this occasion, the President of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court officially requested the membership of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court in the African organization as an “Observer Member”.

As a reminder, the Conference of African Constitutional Judicial Bodies is an organization which was created by virtue of a decision taken by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Kampala in 2010. Algeria hosts its headquarters which currently brings together 48 African Constitutional Courts and four non-African Member States as observers, namely Brazil, Turkey, Russia and Iraq.

Togo: death of the President of the Constitutional Court

The President of the Constitutional Court of Togo, Aboudou Assouma, who had been battling a serious illness for several years, died on Friday May 26 at the age of 78.

Aboudou Assouma has headed the high court in constitutional matters since 2007.

Born in 1945, Aboudou Assouma grew up in Kara where he completed his primary and secondary studies before leaving for France to pursue his higher education. He graduated in 1975, with a law degree before joining the ranks of the École Supérieure de la Magistrature de Paris for 2 years.

The man joined the Togolese judicial and political apparatus under General Eyadéma upon his return to Togo.

From 1977 to 1981, he was an investigating judge before becoming deputy public prosecutor from 1981 to 1988.

He was Public Prosecutor from 1988 to 1991.

From January 2 to June 17, 1992, he joined the government and served as Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) then Attorney General at the Lomé Court of Appeal on March 23, 1993.

 

He was appointed President of the Constitutional Court in 2007 by Faure Gnassingbé. He had thus succeeded Atsu Amega.

During his presidency, the Constitutional Court of Togo participated in the Constitutive Congress of the CJCA held in Algiers in 2011 and became a founding member.

On this painful occasion, the President of the Conference, the Secretary-General, members of the Executive Bureau and all the judges of the African Constitutional Courts extend their sincere condolences and sympathy to his family and all members of the Constitutional Court in Togo.