Côte d’Ivoire 2016 Constitution

Preamble

We, the People of Côte d’Ivoire;

Conscious of our independence and of our national identity, assume our historical responsibility before the Nation and humanity;

Bearing in mind that the Côte d’Ivoire is, and remains, a land of hospitality;

Taught by lessons from our political and constitutional history, desirous of building a Nation that is brotherly, united, in solidarity, peaceful and prosperous, and with a concern for preserving political stability;

Taking into account our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to build a multi-ethnic and multi-racial Nation on the principles of national sovereignty;

Convinced that union with respect for this diversity ensures, through work and discipline, the economic progress and social well-being of everyone;

Persuaded that political, ethnic, religious tolerance as well as forgiveness and cross-cultural dialogue constitute fundamental elements of pluralism contributing to the strengthening of our unity, to the reinforcement of the process of national reconciliation and to social cohesion;

Affirm our commitment to respect for cultural, spiritual and moral values;

Reminding everyone, and in all circumstances, of our irreversible commitment to defending and preserving the republican form of Government as well as the secular character of the State;

Reaffirm our determination to build a Rule of Law in which human rights, public freedoms, human dignity, justice and good governance as defined in the international legal instruments to which the Côte d’Ivoire is a party, in particular the United Nations Charter of 1945, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 1981 and its supplementary protocols, the Constitutive Act of the African Union of 2001, are promoted, protected and guaranteed;

Deeply attached to constitutional legality and to democratic institutions;

Considering that democratic election is the means by which the people freely choose those who govern their country;

Proclaim our attachment to the principles of multi-party democracy based on the holding of free and transparent elections, of the separation and balance of power;

Disapprove of any undemocratic means of attaining or maintaining power;

Condemn any unconstitutional change of government and declare that perpetrators of this crime be subject to the full force of the law;

Express our commitment to:

• preserving the integrity of the national territory;
  
  safeguarding our sovereignty over national resources and ensuring an equitable management thereof for the well-being of everyone;

  promoting equality between men and women;

  promoting transparency in the conduct of public affairs;

  defending and preserving our cultural heritage;

  contributing to climate protection and to maintaining a healthy environment for future generations;

We pledge to promote regional and subregional integration, with a view to achieving African unity;

Approve and adopt freely and solemnly before the Nation and humanity this Constitution as the basic Law of the State, whose Preamble is an integral part.