As Côte d’Ivoire prepares for the 2025 legislative elections, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has provided clarifications regarding the issuance of key administrative documents required for submitting candidacy files.

In a statement issued on November 3, 2025, the Office of the Minister of Justice reminded candidates of the legal procedures for obtaining the certificate of nationality and the criminal record extract—two essential documents in the electoral process.

According to the statement, the certificate of Ivorian nationality can be obtained from the court in the applicant’s place of birth or residence. This process may also be completed online through the e-justice platform for jurisdictions already connected to this digital system—an initiative introduced by the ministry to streamline procedures and reduce processing times.

However, the issuance of the criminal record extract follows specific regulations. The ministry clarified that Ivorian citizens born in Côte d’Ivoire must request this document exclusively from the court in their place of birth. As a result, the Directorate of Civil and Criminal Affairs (DACP) only issues criminal record certificates to individuals born outside Ivorian territory, whether they are Ivorian or foreign nationals.

Therefore, legislative candidates born in Côte d’Ivoire who obtained a criminal record extract from the DACP are advised to contact the competent courts in their places of birth to obtain a legally valid document for their candidacy files.

The statement also notes that the Directorate of Civil and Criminal Affairs remains available to reimburse any administrative fees mistakenly paid by concerned applicants in this context.

With this clarification, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights aims to ensure administrative transparency and legal compliance throughout the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of adherence to established procedures.