5 Game-Changing Recommendations You Won’t Want to Miss: Expert Insights from Togotimes

Between September 18 and 20, 2024 in Abidjan-Cocody, the 3rd Congress of UEMOA lawyers was held under the auspices of the Conference of Bars of the Community Space. At the end of the meeting, five strong recommendations were drawn up with the aim of improving the practice of the profession in the community space.

In this case, this includes the adoption of a manual of procedures to process applications for establishment within the various WAEMU area bars; create an observatory of freedom and human rights to better protect rights in the region; develop a protocol of good practice between the offices of the general public prosecutor and the bars to supervise cases initiated against lawyers and adopt related operating regulations; strengthening the transparency of financial flows by involving lawyers in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing; harmonizing the initial and continuing training of lawyers in the UEMOA area, in order to respond to the new challenges of the profession.

This large meeting which brought together 361 participants, around the main theme “Ten years of application of Regulation No. 05: return to the future of lawyers in the UEMOA area”, allowed participants to discuss various sub-themes related to the challenges of their profession .

Me Claude Mentenon, President of the Ivory Coast Bar Association and President of the WAEMU Bar Conference, believes that these recommendations are an invitation to all lawyers to take on the challenges of competitiveness in an environment at its peak.

He also sent a message to young lawyers, encouraging them to demonstrate excellence in their professional practice. “This congress marks a new step in our joint and professional commitment,” declared the Ivorian President.

One of the strong points of this congress was the decoration of the eight presidents of the WAEMU member countries by the State of Côte d’Ivoire, in recognition of their contribution to the promotion of community law.

Elevated to the dignity of Knight of the National Order, Me Claude Mentenon and his counterparts from Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Benin and Togo were decorated by Minister Ally Coulibaly, Chancellor of the National Order.

The Presidents of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, who were absent, will receive their honors later. Me Angelo Hounkpati, President of the President of Benin, expressed the gratitude of the recipients. Present during this meeting, Me Patrice Monti, president of the Cemac Lawyers’ Conference, welcomed the progress made in the UEMOA area, especially in terms of the application of Regulation No. 05.

He called for better cooperation between West and Central African bars, in order to face common challenges effectively, such as the fight against corruption and money laundering.

Representing the Minister for Justice and Human Rights, Augustin Yao Kouamé, director of civil and criminal affairs, praised the quality of the exchanges during this congress.

With Fratmat

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