Africa/European sanctions: an African businessman files a complaint in Luxembourg

On February 24, 2025, an unusual event occurred within the discreet halls of the European Union Court: Harouna Douamba, an Ivorian-Burkinabè businessman, filed a lawsuit against the EU. At issue is his inclusion on Brussels’ blacklist of sanctioned individuals, dated December 16, 2024. Sanctioned without being heard, Douamba denounces what he calls a unilateral decision based on “false allegations” and protests against what he sees as the systematic criminalization of African voices critical of the West.

His legal action is based on Article 263 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which guarantees the right to challenge EU legal acts that violate fundamental rights.

Beyond the legal dimension, the political implications of the case are clear. A committed Pan-Africanist, Harouna Douamba represents a segment of the African elite determined to challenge the traditional geopolitical influence of former colonial powers. In a context where African alliances are shifting — with growing roles for Russia, China, and Turkey — this legal battle reflects a drive for narrative sovereignty as much as legal justice.

Behind the scenes, this is also a battle over public perception. Harouna Douamba carefully chooses his words to speak of justice, dignity, and his commitment to Africa. He seeks to demonstrate that he has been treated unfairly and portrays himself as a victim of a system that does not apply sanctions equally.

This lawsuit highlights a broader trend: the emergence of African actors who are increasingly using international legal and institutional frameworks to assert their own structured and now hard-to-ignore voices.