The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Côte d’Ivoire reacted on March 11, 2026, in Abidjan to a statement published the previous day by Amnesty International regarding people arrested and convicted in connection with events linked to the October 2025 presidential election.

In a statement signed by the Director of Human Rights, Delbé Zirignon Constant, the Ivorian authorities disputed the claims made by the human rights organization. According to the ministry, the individuals mentioned in the statement were duly prosecuted, tried, and convicted after benefiting from all legal guarantees, including the right to a fair trial.

The ministry stated that the convictions relate to acts of public disorder following gatherings. Authorities therefore consider the allegations of “groundless arrests” and “unfair convictions” raised by Amnesty International to be an inappropriate value judgment.

The authorities also recalled that the Ivorian judicial system guarantees the right to a two-tier jurisdiction. According to the statement, those convicted have exercised their right to appeal, and the case is now before the competent court, which will rule on the validity of the charges.

The ministry also provided clarification regarding the situation of pregnant women in detention, a matter mentioned in Amnesty International’s statement. According to the Human Rights Directorate, no woman deprived of liberty in Côte d’Ivoire is held in conditions unfavorable to the proper course of a pregnancy. Since the beginning of 2025, fifteen pregnant women have been detained for various offenses, five of whom gave birth while in detention. All reportedly received regular medical monitoring and assistance from social services. As of now, eight pregnant women remain in detention in the country.

In its statement published on March 10, 2026, Amnesty International said that five months after opposition protests banned by the authorities, some of those arrested including pregnant women remain in detention despite not having participated in the demonstrations. The organization also claims that some convictions were handed down following trials it considers unfair.

In response to these criticisms, the Ministry of Justice questioned why the NGO focused on only a few cases, stating that highlighting only certain pregnant detainees could amount to unequal treatment of individuals in similar situations.