The former Ivorian Minister of Justice Gnénéma Mamadou Coulibaly died on Thursday, October 22, 2026, in Abidjan, according to a statement from the public prosecutor’s office near the Court of Cassation and the Council of State, reported by several Ivorian media outlets.
At the time of his death, the magistrate outside the hierarchy was the advocate general at the general prosecutor’s office common to the two high courts and headed the Criminal Section. The note bearing the number 019/PG-CC-CE/CAB was signed by the Attorney General François Komoin.
The document was sent to the attorneys general, clerks, and all staff of the public prosecutor’s office. The circumstances of the death were not specified by the institution.
The rank of magistrate outside the hierarchy corresponds to the pinnacle of the judicial career. In his final duties, Gnénéma Mamadou Coulibaly therefore served within the public prosecutor’s office attached to the Court of Cassation and the Council of State.
He had previously served as Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Public Liberties. An archive from the official government portal still presents him in this position during the Government Meetings of November 20, 2014, dedicated to reviewing two years of actions in the judicial sector.
Originally from Korhogo, he had pursued legal studies focused on judicial careers before joining the School of Magistracy, according to Fraternité Matin. His career had led him to hold several positions in the courts and central administration.
After his time in government, he returned to the high judiciary. Archives from Abidjan.net notably attest to his appointment as Attorney General during the 2017 and 2018 judicial sessions of the former Supreme Court.
The public prosecutor’s office indicated that the funeral arrangements would be announced later.
