Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is a developing country on the western coast of Africa. The official capital is Yamoussoukro, but Abidjan is the largest city, the main commercial center, and the location of the Ivoirian government and the U.S. Embassy. The official language is French; English is not widely used. Côte d’Ivoire is a republic whose constitution provides for separate branches of government under a strong president.

Under the direction of President Alassane Ouattara since his inauguration in May 2011, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire continues to move forward with a broad range of programs that have increased the country’s security and improved the economic climate. Over a decade of political unrest and violence began in 1999, culminating in the 2010-11 post-electoral crisis that was precipitated by former President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to accept the outcome of the 2010 election. Since the Ouattara administration assumed office, the country has largely returned to stability. The Government, however, continues to have limited capacity to provide basic services to the Ivoirian population, particularly those related to safety and security issues. Police and gendarmes are not always able to fulfill their public security mandates due to inadequate training and an acute lack of resources, such as weapons, transportation, and communications equipment. Despite numerous positive developments across virtually all sectors, anti-government elements continue to pose a threat. In addition, security concerns remain in the western region, and there were several cross-border attacks in communities along the Liberian border in 2014. In November and December 2014, factions of the Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) went on strike in protest of outstanding backpay. The situation returned to normal following negotiations with the Government. At the end of June 2015, the Government concluded its program to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate ex-combattants, and has taken other actions to eliminate militia operating outside the official security forces. Criminal activity, including armed robbery, remains a problem in the country.

Tourist facilities in and near Abidjan, the commercial capital, are good; accommodations in many other locations are limited in quality and availability. Read the Department of State's Fact Sheet on Côte d'Ivoire for additional information on U.S.-Côte d’Ivoire relations.

Transportation

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Côte d’Ivoire, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Côte d'Ivoire’s road conditions differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Côte d’Ivoire is provided for general reference only. Serious traffic accidents, one of the greatest threats to U.S. citizens in Côte d’Ivoire, occur regularly in Abidjan and throughout the country. Unsafe road conditions, unskilled drivers, and poorly maintained and overloaded vehicles create hazardous driving conditions. Speed limits, lane markings, and signals are not respected, and drivers do not yield for pedestrians or bicyclists. Drive defensively, watch out for public transportation vehicles that stop and start without warning, and be especially cautious at intersections because traffic lights often malfunction. If you drive at night, beware of vehicles without headlights or taillights, and pedestrians and bicycles along the roadside. In case of an accident, do not move your vehicle until a police officer tells you to do so. However, if there is no other vehicle to take the injured to a hospital, or if you believe your life is in danger from others at the site of the accident, go to the nearest hospital or police station.

Abidjan has a poor public transportation system; if you choose to travel by bus despite the risks, the “Express” line is believed to be the safest and most reliable. In Abidjan, taxis are readily available and inexpensive (metered, but possibly rigged; you may be able to negotiate a better rate). They are, however, poorly maintained and notorious for not respecting the rules of the road. There have been reports of robberies in metered or orange taxis, though widely thought to be the most secure form of public transportation. Communal taxis (“woro-woros”), used only within the limits of each commune, are not metered and are dangerous. Do not use local vans ("Gbaka") because they are frequently involved in accidents. Always travel in groups and avoid driving on roads outside of Abidjan at night.

While carjacking incidents are not as frequent as in other high-crime cities, they do occur, including vehicles with diplomatic plates. The Embassy recommends that motorists drive with doors locked and windows closed at all times. While stopped in traffic, allow enough room between your car and the one in front to maneuver out if needed. Before getting into your car, look around to see if there is anyone paying unusual attention and, if someone appears to be watching do not go to your vehicle, get assistance instead. If confronted, remain courteous and calm and, if threatened, do not resist. Please report any incident to the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan.

Emergency services such as ambulance service (SAMU) exist in Abidjan and larger towns, but such service is unreliable. Call 185 or 2244-5553. In smaller towns, there is usually no ambulance service available, but ambulances may be dispatched from larger towns.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Côte d’Ivoire, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the Government of Côte d’Ivoire’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

Safety and Security

Since President Ouattara assumed office in May 2011, incidents of political violence have gradually decreased, but some political tensions still persist with violent attacks occurring intermittently on the Liberian border. Côte d’Ivoire supported the French military intervention in Mali in 2013 against Islamist extremists and there has been concern that extremists might target Côte d’Ivoire. In March 2013, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire reported the arrests of foreign jihadists in the planning stages of attacks against western targets in Côte d’Ivoire. Although there have been no indications of terrorist attack planning in Côte d’Ivoire since 2013, in July 2014, the French reported that they were expanding their counter-terrorism mission in Africa’s Sahel region and establishing a larger permanent base in country. In 2015, a Malian terrorist group reportedly declared Côte d’Ivoire as a target for future attacks, but no terrorist attacks have occurred within the country. Since January 2015, four terrorist attacks have occurred in Mali near the border with Côte d’Ivoire. These attacks have resulted in increased vigilance by the Ivoirian security forces on that border.

Separately, Côte d’Ivoire has undertaken security sector reform and, as a result, its national police and gendarmerie are in a transitional period. The military often performs what might be considered as traditional civilian law enforcement functions for which is it not properly trained. Military, gendarme, and police forces were killed in attacks by both anti-government and criminal elements in 2014 and 2015.

The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan continues to monitor the security situation in Côte d’Ivoire closely. U.S. citizens are reminded that even demonstrations and/or political events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations and crowds, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations or political events. U.S. citizens in Côte d’Ivoire are advised to stay abreast of media coverage of local events and to remain aware of their surroundings at all times.

The staff of the U.S. Embassy are required to inform the Regional Security Office (RSO) of proposed travel outside the aforementioned cities; to Abidjan’s Abobo and Yopougon neighborhoods; and to the Banco Forest in order to assess current security situations. Embassy personnel are also prohibited from driving outside of major cities after dark, including between Abidjan, Grand Bassam, and Assinie. The Embassy’s ability to provide consular services outside of the Abidjan area, including emergency assistance, is limited. Many areas of Côte d’Ivoire are difficult to access, and travel in these areas is hazardous. Outside the major cities, infrastructure is poor, medical care is limited, and there are few facilities for tourists. If you are planning travel to Côte d’Ivoire, U.S. citizens traveling outside of Abidjan are advised to contact the Embassy for the latest security update on their destination, remain alert, ensure that their destination is known to others, and exercise the same level of caution that they would in any major city.

Swimming in coastal waters is dangerous and strongly discouraged, even for excellent swimmers. The ocean currents along the coast are powerful and treacherous, and several people drown each year.

To stay connected:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements.
• Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook.
• Bookmark the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
• Follow the U.S. Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire on Twitter and visiting the Embassy’s website.
• In the event of an emergency, contact us at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or via a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries.
• Take some time before traveling to consider your personal security and checking for useful tips for traveling safely abroad.

CRIME: Crime continues to be the major public security concern in Côte d’Ivoire. Armed carjackings, robberies of businesses, and home invasions occur, targeting residents, including expatriates, who are perceived as wealthy. U.S. citizens, either visiting or residing in Côte d’Ivoire, are strongly encouraged to remain alert and aware of their surroundings to avoid becoming a victim of crime. The general guidance for travel to Côte d’Ivoire is exercise the same prudence and caution that you would in any metropolitan area in the United States; refrain from conspicuous displays of wealth such as jewelry and other valuables, carry limited amounts of cash, and only photocopies of key documents. Always carry identification and be discreet about your transactions, especially on the street. Normal spending habits of Westerners may appear extravagant to Ivoirians, making U.S. citizens targets of crime. When moving about the city, stay in well-lit areas and walk confidently at a steady pace on the side of the street facing traffic close to the curb. Avoid crowds, mass transit, alleys, and sparsely populated areas. Take caution when walking past concealed areas such as doorways and bushes. Whenever possible, travel in pairs or small groups. If you go out at night and need transportation, orange taxis are an option as they are typically metered (although meters may be rigged). Be cognizant that there have been reports of muggings and robbery scams even in metered taxis. Home and car doors should be locked at all times.

Be particularly alert when visiting Abidjan’s Koumassi, Angre, Adjame, Yopougon, Marcory, and Abobo districts. Popular neighborhoods for nighttime entertainment, such as Zone 4, Treichville, and Plateau, often attract crime. When traveling outside of Abidjan, avoid traveling after dark and be aware that rogue police, security forces, and criminals often use vehicular checkpoints to extort money from drivers and passengers. There have been few reported cases of sexual assault against foreigners, but there are no available statistics or other reliable reporting on this issue.

U.S. citizens who are stopped by police/security forces are urged to be polite and cooperate. If you are ticketed, you should ask the officer for a receipt for any items confiscated by the police, such as a driver’s license or other identification. Drivers issued a ticket should note, however, that it is legal to pay the police officer money by the side of the road, but the amount paid should not exceed the amount printed on the ticket itself. The fee is generally 2,000 CFA (4 USD).

U.S. citizens detained by the police should ask that the U.S. Embassy be notified immediately at +225 2249-4000/4450.

Contact information for local authorities includes:

Abidjan Police Prefecture /Emergency Number: +225- 20- 25-87-88
National Police General Command Post +225-20-22-16-33 and +225-20-22-16-87
National Police Information and Command Center (CRIC) Centrale 6: 20-21-35-01 /20-21-00–70

Credit card use in Côte d’Ivoire is limited, particularly outside Abidjan, and credit card fraud is an increasing problem. Business fraud is common and the perpetrators often target foreigners. Schemes previously associated with Nigeria are now prevalent in Côte d’Ivoire, and pose a risk of significant financial loss. Typically these scams begin with unsolicited communication (usually by e-mail) from strangers who promise quick financial gain, often by transferring large sums of money or valuables out of the country, but then require a series of "advance fees" to be paid, such as fees for legal documents or taxes. A common variation is the scammer’s claim to be a refugee or émigré of a prominent West African family, who needs assistance transferring large sums of cash. Another common scam involves alleged victims of a serious accident or injury in need of money for life-saving medical care. Still other variations appear to be legitimate business deals that require advance payments on contracts or large purchases of merchandise using fraudulent credit cards. Sometimes victims are convinced to provide bank account and credit card information, and authorize financial transactions that drain their accounts, causing them to incur large debts.

The best way to avoid becoming a victim of advance-fee fraud is common sense: if a proposition looks too good to be true, it probably is a scam, particularly if you have never met the correspondent. You should carefully check and research any unsolicited business proposal before committing funds, providing goods or services, or undertaking travel. A good clue to a scam is the phone number given to the victim; legitimate businesses and offices provide fixed line numbers, while scams typically use only cellular (cell) phones. In Côte d’Ivoire, most cell phone numbers start with 04, 05, 06, 44, 45, 46, 48, 58, 60, 66, or 67. Note that it is virtually impossible to recover money lost through these scams. For additional information, please consult the Department of State's page on international financial scams.

VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. We can:

• Replace a stolen passport.
• Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of violent crimes such as assault or rape.
• Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and if you want us to, contact family members or friends.
• Help you understand the local criminal justice process and direct you to local attorneys, although it is important to remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Côte d’Ivoire is 170. Other Police emergency numbers that can be called include:

National Police Command Post (Abidjan): 20-22-16-87 / 20-22-16-33
National Police Information and Command Center (CRIC) Centrale 6: 20-21-35-01 / 20-21–00–70

Please see our information for victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.