ADELE Koue Sungbeu walks through the streets of Abidjan with her head held high—a confident stride replacing the quiet shame she carried since undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) as a teenager. The 45-year-old midwife is among 28 women in Côte d’Ivoire who received free reconstructive surgery last month, part of a groundbreaking public health initiative to heal … Read more
NO fewer than 78 Nigerians rescued from human traffickers in Cote D’Ivoire have arrived in Lagos. The victims, comprising 73 females, two males and three babies arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos around 11 :00 p.m. on Saturday. Mrs Binta Bello, the Director-General (DG) National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in … Read more
COTE d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire (PDCI), said on Monday it had launched legal action to overturn a court ruling that bars its leader, Tidjane Thiam, from contesting this year’s presidential election. The move comes as political tensions escalate six months ahead of the crucial vote. Thiam, a 62-year-old former international … Read more
DOZENS of opposition parties in Cote d’Ivoire have joined forces in a significant political shift ahead of the country’s crucial presidential election in October 2025. The newly formed Coalition for a Peaceful Alternation aims to push for electoral reforms and level the playing field against the ruling party led by President Alassane Ouattara. Major opposition heavyweights … Read more
THE International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has signed a $27 million loan agreement to finance the construction of affordable housing in Cote d’Ivoire. The funding aims to support the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce the housing deficit in the West African nation. Addoha Group to deliver 5,600 homes in … Read more
THOUSANDS of residents in Abidjan have been left homeless after Côte d’Ivoire’s government intensified a demolition campaign targeting informal settlements. The move, part of an urban renewal drive, has sparked widespread criticism, with human rights groups condemning the forced evictions and lack of support for displaced families. According to AFP, the demolitions have devastated communities, with … Read more
COTE d’Ivoire’s oil and gas production is set for a major boost, with output expected to rise to between 75,000 and 85,000 barrels per day (bpd) following the successful launch of phase 2 at the Baleine field, the government announced on Wednesday. Government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly revealed after a cabinet meeting in Abidjan that combined … Read more
COTE d’Ivoire has suspended five senior officials accused of facilitating cocoa smuggling across the western border, according to an army statement seen by Reuters earlier this week. An estimated 50,000 to 75,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans have been trafficked to Guinea and Liberia since the start of the 2024/25 season in October, exporters and buyers told Reuters. … Read more
COTE d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara has hinted at seeking a fourth term, saying he remains in good health and eager to continue leading the nation. However, he stressed that his party has yet to make a formal decision on its 2025 election candidate. Speaking to the diplomatic corps in Abidjan on Thursday, the 83-year-old leader … Read more
COCOA smuggling between Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea has escalated to alarming levels, with an estimated 50,000 metric tonnes – valued at approximately $573 million – illegally transported across the border from October to December 2024, according to exporters. This surge in illegal trade has been fuelled by rising cocoa prices, which more than doubled in … Read more