Côte d'Ivoire court orders permanent closure of QNET Africa Development Market

On 30 July 2026, the Pôle pénal économique et financier (PPEF) in Côte d'Ivoire delivered a final, unappealable verdict in the QNET Africa Development Market case. The court ordered the company’s permanent shutdown and imposed a fine of three billion CFA francs. Eight individuals linked to the scheme received five‑year prison terms, heavy fines amounting to several hundred million CFA francs, asset confiscations and additional penalties.

The ruling follows a multi‑year investigation that began in 2018 after the Ivorian state sought documentation on the firm’s activities. Prosecutors had previously charged the defendants with large‑scale fraud and money‑laundering, and the court’s decision underscores the authorities’ intent to combat organized financial crime.