The President of the International Union of Judicial Officers, Marc Schmitz, paid an official visit to Guinea from 18 to 20 May 2026, accompanied by Jean Didier Bidié, Vice-President of the UIHJ. This institutional mission, organised at the invitation of the National Chamber of Judicial Officers of Guinea, aimed to strengthen cooperation with the Guinean judicial authorities and to support the development of the profession of judicial officer in Guinea.
During its stay in Conakry, the UIHJ delegation met with several senior judicial authorities in the country, notably the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Keeper of the Seals, Ibrahima Sory II Tounkara, as well as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Fodé Bangoura. These discussions provided an opportunity to address issues relating to the effective enforcement of court decisions, the role of judicial officers in consolidating the rule of law, and the challenges facing the profession in Guinea.
During these meetings, Marc Schmitz emphasised that a court decision which is not enforced risks becoming a dead letter, which is why judicial officers play an essential role in any democratic society.
The President of the UIHJ also praised Guinea’s ongoing commitment within the international organisation, highlighting the loyalty and active participation of the National Chamber of Judicial Officers of Guinea in the activities and work organised by the International Union of Judicial Officers. In his view, this involvement fully justified this official visit to the country’s highest judicial authorities.
Discussions also focused on the practical difficulties encountered by Guinean judicial officers in the performance of their duties, particularly issues relating to the deployment of law enforcement officers during the enforcement of court decisions. On this subject, Marc Schmitz emphasised that the effective support of law enforcement is an essential element in guaranteeing the rule of law and ensuring the enforceability of court decisions.
The UIHJ delegation also took part in an important working meeting with Guinean judicial officers, held within the premises of the Conakry Court of Appeal, in the courtroom that had hosted the historic trial of 28 September 2009. This meeting facilitated direct discussions on the realities on the ground, the difficulties encountered on a daily basis, and the needs of the profession.
On this occasion, the President of the CNHJG, Aboubacar Camara, welcomed President Marc Schmitz’s first official visit to Guinea and expressed his gratitude to the international delegation. He recalled that relations between the CNHJG and the UIHJ are rooted in a long history of loyalty and cooperation, adding that this international solidarity is now a significant asset for the development of the profession in Guinea.
Mr Aboubacar Camara also emphasised that this visit had helped to shed further light on the difficulties faced by Guinean judicial officers in the enforcement of court decisions and in their dealings with certain authorities. He called for increased technical support from the UIHJ, particularly in the areas of continuing professional development and professional documentation.
In response to these expectations, the President of the UIHJ announced the organisation, in 2027, of a UFOHJA training session in Guinea, intended for Guinean judicial officers as well as colleagues from other African countries.
The UIHJ delegation would also like to express its sincere thanks to the National Chamber of Judicial Officers of Guinea for the particularly warm welcome it received, as well as for the excellent organisation of this official visit.
