ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has urged citizens to demand official receipts for all payments made for judicial documents and services, as part of efforts to combat financial extortion and unauthorized fee collection within the country’s court system.
In a statement issued in Abidjan on Nov. 10, 2026, Justice Minister Jean Sansan Kambilé called on court users to ensure that every payment made to judicial institutions is properly documented with an official receipt.
According to the minister, receipts must clearly indicate the name and position of the issuing official, the type of judicial document requested, and the exact amount paid.
Kambilé said all charges for judicial services must strictly comply with the provisions of Decree No. 2013-279 of April 24, 2013, which established the official schedule of legal fees in civil, commercial, administrative and social matters. The decree was later amended by Decree No. 2014-259 of May 14, 2014, and Decree No. 2017-771 of Nov. 22, 2017.
He noted that the approved fee schedules are publicly displayed in courts and other judicial institutions across the country, and encouraged citizens to familiarize themselves with the official rates to avoid paying unauthorized charges.
The minister also urged members of the public who experience extortion or are asked to make unofficial payments by judicial personnel to report such incidents directly to the Ministry of Justice.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in the administration of justice, while reinforcing citizens’ right to receive official documentation for all payments made within the judicial system.
