The constitutional courts of Gabon and Togo are set to deepen their partnership through shared efforts and experience exchanges. The heads of both high courts, Dieudonné Aba’a Owono and Professor Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley, laid the groundwork for this collaboration yesterday at the Constitution Palace during a meeting, following the arrival of the Togolese delegation in Libreville for a working and friendship visit.
This initiative builds on the strong ties between Gabon’s President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and Togo’s President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who share common positions on various regional and international issues.
According to both presidents, the closer ties between the two courts are highly relevant given both traditional and emerging challenges. Constitutional justice must meet the demands of an intergenerational society and ensure the protection of dignity, rights, and freedoms for future generations.
“The dialogue between our courts is not only useful for our institutions, it is useful for Africa. It is no longer a simple exercise of constitutional courtesy; it has become a necessity for strengthening the rule of law on our continent,” said Dieudonné Aba’a Owono. He expressed hope that this visit would be the first of many, allowing constitutional judges from both countries to work together, share reflections, jurisprudence, and questions.
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Similarly, Professor Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley reaffirmed the relevance of this approach. “In this time of warlike storm where the prestige of the rule of law is receding almost everywhere in the world, the dialogue between our jurisdictions offers us the opportunity to affirm our community of values expressed by the principle of the rule of law,” he emphasized. The Togolese delegation’s stay concludes on Wednesday.
