The partnership between Gabon’s Constitutional Court and its Togolese counterpart is set to deepen through joint efforts and the exchange of expertise. The presidents of both high courts, Dieudonné Aba’a Owono and Professor Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley, laid the groundwork for this collaboration yesterday at the Palais de la Constitution in Libreville. The meeting followed the arrival of the Togolese delegation in the Gabonese capital for a working and friendship visit.
This initiative builds on the excellent relationship between Gabon’s head of state, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, and the president of the Togolese Council, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. Both leaders share aligned views on several regional and international issues.
According to the two presidents, strengthening ties between their institutions is highly relevant given both traditional and future challenges. Constitutional justice today must respond to the demands of an intergenerational society and ensure the protection of dignity, rights, and freedoms for future generations.
“Dialogue between our courts is not only beneficial for our institutions—it serves Africa as a whole. It is no longer merely a gesture of constitutional courtesy; it has become essential for consolidating the rule of law on our continent,” said Dieudonné Aba’a Owono. He expressed hope that this visit marks the beginning of a long series, allowing constitutional judges from both countries to collaborate, share insights, jurisprudence, and questions.
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Professor Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley also reaffirmed the importance of this approach. “In this era of global turmoil, where the prestige of the rule of law is receding in many parts of the world, dialogue between our jurisdictions gives us the opportunity to affirm our shared values embodied in the principle of the rule of law,” he stressed. The Togolese delegation’s stay will conclude on Wednesday.
