ABRAHAM D. ZINZINDOHOUE (BENIN) - President

• PhD,International Law, Université D’Orléans, France
• DEA in litigation, Université D’Orléans, France
• Grand Officer of the National Order of Benin

Position at Time of Nomination:

• Minister of Justice and Institutional Relations; Keeper of the Seals; Government Spokesman

Other Positions Held:

• Vice President, Judiciary Council (2006-2007)
• Member, Interparliamentary Committee of WAEMU
• Lawyer, Appeals Court of Cotonou (2002 – 2006)
• Member, Informational Mission of the Organisation International de la Francophonie for the Burundi Constitutional Referendum (February – March 2005)
• Chair, International Validation Commission, Legislative Elections in the Comoros (2004)
• Moderator, International Foundation for Electoral Systems International Cotonou Colloquium on the State of the Law and the Separation of Powers (January 2004)
• Deputy, National Assembly 4^th legislature (2003- 2006)
• International Magistrate for the Approval of the Presidential Elections in the Comoros (March 2002)
• Supreme Court of Benin (1995-2000); President from 1999
• Senior Vice President, Superior Judiciary Council (1995-2000)
• Vice President, Law Commission of the National Assembly (1993-1995)
• Deputy, National Assembly 1^st legislature (1993-1995)
• Spokesman, parliamentary group “Le Renouveau” (1993 – 1995)
• Advocate, Court of Appeals, Cotonou (1982-1995)
• Member, Council of the Order of Barristers of Cotonou (1982-1995)
• Assistant Professor, Faculty of Juridical, Economic and Political Sciences, National University of Benin (1978 – 1982)
• President, Juridical Commission, Association for the Development of Village Initiatives
• President, West African Association of Francophone Supreme Jurisdictions (1998 – 2001)

Publications:

• (with Robert M. Dossou and Francis A. Laleye) Rapport Sur L’Etat de Droit et la Gouvernance en Afrique
• Les juges nationaux et la loi aux prises avec le Droit harmonisé dans l'OHADA, REV. DE DROIT DES AFFAIRES INTERNATIONALES 227 (2000).

An interview conducted with Maitre Zinzindohoue in early 2007 is available at http://www.nytimes.com/global/benin/interview11.htm

JEROME KONAN ALLOU (IVORY COAST)

• Maîtrise en droit, University of Abidjan
• Graduate, Ivory Coast National School of Administration,  Magisture

Position at Time of Nomination:

• Deputy State Prosecutor, Court of First Instance, Abidjan

OUSMANE DIAKITE (MALI)

• Graduate of the National School of Administration, Mali

Position at Time of Nomination:

• Vice President, Supreme Court of Mali (2003 – 2006)

Other Positions Held:  

• Justice, Supreme Court (2000-2003)
• Senior President, Court of Appeals, Bamako
• National Director of Civil Affairs and of the Seal (1985-1991)
• President, Tribunal of First Instance, Bamako (1980-1984)
• Justice, Supreme Court and President of the Chamber of Examinations (1979-1980)
• State Prosecutor, Court of First Instance, Sikasso (1976-1979)
• Justice of the Peace with broad jurisdiction, Koulikoro (1972-1975)
• Chief Examining Judge, Court of First Instance, Bamako (1975-1976)
• Examining Judge and President of the Court of First Instance, Kayes

DANIEL LOPES FERREIRA (GUINEA BISSAU)

Position at Time of Nomination:

Other Positions Held:

• Professor

DABRÉ GBANDJABA (TOGO)

• Maîtrise en droit, University of Ben-Aknoun, Algiers
• Graduate, National School of Administration, Lomé

Position at Time of Nomination:

• Member and Vice-President, Conseil d’Administration, Court of Arbitration, Togo (2005 - 2007)
• General Prosecutor, Lomé Court of Appeals (1999 - 2007) 

Other Positions Held:

• Member, Conseil Supérieur de la Magistrature, Togo (2001 - 2005);
• State Prosecutor, Court of First Instance of the First Class, Lomé (1993-1999)
• President, Labor Court of Lomé (1993)
• President, Court of First Instance of the Second Class, Kpalimé (1986-1993
• Examining Judge, Court of First Instance of the Second Class, Atakpamé (1985-1986)
• President, Fourth Correctional Chamber, Court of First Instance of the First Classe, Lomé.

HAMIDOU SALIFOU KANE (NIGER)

• Graduate, National Judiciary School (Paris)
• Maîtrise en droit publique, University of Niamey
• Officer of the National Order of Merit, France
• Commander of the National Order of Niger
• Knight of the Order of Merit, Niger

Position at Time of Nomination:

• President, National Independent Electoral Commission (2003-2005)

Other Positions Held:

• International Election Observer, Burkina Faso (2005)
• Vice President, Niamey Court of Appeals (2005)
• President, Tahoua Regional Tribunal (2002-2003)
• President, Zinder Regional Tribunal (1999-2001)
• Justice, Zinder Court of Appeals (1994-1999)
• President, Section of the Court of Dosso (1992-1994)
• Justice of the Peace, Keïta (1989-1992) 

MOHAMADOU NGOM (SENEGAL)

Position at Time of Nomination:

Other Positions Held: State Prosecutor, Court of Ziguinchor

RAMATA FOFANA OUEDRAOGO (BURKINA FASO)

Position at Time of Nomination: President, Ouagadougou Court of Appeals and President, Military Tribunal (1999-2001)

Other Positions Held: