According to the current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication, Côte d’Ivoire is assessed as a Level 2: “Exercise Increased Precautions” country due to crime and terrorism.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

U.S. Embassy Abidjan does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit cannot recommend a particular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided.

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Abidjan as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Please review OSAC’s Côte d’Ivoire-specific webpage for analytic reports, travel alerts, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

Crime Threats

The majority of crimes against foreigners are non-violent, economically-motivated, and opportunistic (smash-and-grabs, muggings, pickpocketing, theft of unattended possessions). The risk of petty crime is often higher in areas of congregation, particularly markets and popular sports/soccer matches. Hotel rooms are occasional targets for theft of belongings.

Certain sections of Abidjan continue to experience crimes of opportunity committed by small groups of young men called microbes. The microbes usually operate in the more densely populated neighborhoods, roughing up pedestrians and stealing valuables. There was at least one mob lynching of a microbe in Abidjan in 2017, and police conducted mass detentions of microbes over 2017.

Property crime (burglaries of residences, car theft) and violent crime (carjackings, armed residential/street robberies) are also prevalent. Firearms are readily available and circulate freely throughout the country. There continue to be numerous incidents of highway banditry and other violent crimes in the countryside. During the holiday season, there is typically an increase in both violent and opportunistic crimes. Western victims of crime are seldom harmed when they comply with the criminal’s demands; resisting an armed assailant risks escalating the situation to violence.

Credit card fraud and skimming is also a concern. For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, “The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud.”

Cybersecurity Issues

Financial and internet-based scams are proliferating in Côte d’Ivoire, and the country has developed a reputation in West Africa for cybercrime. The U.S. Embassy receives multiple inquiries per week about scams. Scams typically target internet users in developed Francophone countries but occasionally go after Anglophone users.

One fraud involved the sale/transport of gold dust from West African countries.

Other scams may include offers of jobs, business ventures, romance, or adoption opportunities.

The U.S. Embassy is not able to assist victims of scams. For more information on scams in Côte d’Ivoire, see the U.S. Embassy’s webpage.

Areas of Concern

Visitors should avoid travel to the Abidjan neighborhoods of Yopougon, Abobo, the Banco Forest, Adjame, and Koumassi except for specific business purposes during daylight hours due to crime. Avoid walking across the Charles de Gaulle and the Houphouet Boigny bridges connecting the Plateau and Treichville neighborhoods due to crime.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Abidjan. Embassy personnel are prohibited from driving outside the major cities after dark, including between Abidjan, Grand Bassam, and Assinie. Any travel outside of Abidjan should be well-planned and coordinated with family, friends, or colleagues. The U.S. Embassy generally does not restrict travel for its personnel to Grand Bassam, Assinie, and Yamoussoukro, except when specific threat information is received.

Côte d’Ivoire’s borders remain porous, enabling the uncontrolled circulation of weapons, illicit goods, and individuals. Visitors should minimize road travel to near Côte d’Ivoire’s border regions. Travel to the northern and western border areas presents some risks due to banditry along the roadways. Security along Côte d’Ivoire’s northern border with Mali is a growing concern, given increasing instability in that country and the potential for cross-border criminal and terrorist activity from Mali-based groups. The security situation along Côte d’Ivoire’s borders with Liberia and Ghana also remains problematic, with occasional skirmishes between armed groups.

Transportation-Safety Situation

For more information, please review OSAC’s Report, “Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.”

Road Safety and Conditions

Road safety is a major concern in Côte d’Ivoire. Impatient drivers frequently disregard traffic laws and drive too fast given poor road conditions. Cars frequently travel without functioning headlights. Even in urban areas with street lights, visibility is often poor. Transportation accidents involving large commercial or privately-owned vehicles are common along roads connecting major cities. It is common to see overturned or broken down vehicles that may block throughways or exacerbate traffic congestion. Commercial vehicles are often overburdened with cargo and do not follow standard safety practices.

The Ivorian government has invested in improving traffic conditions within Abidjan by building an additional toll bridge and new thoroughfares connecting growing residential areas. However, there still exist large intersections with no or non-working traffic lights and little predictable organization to the flow of traffic. Infrastructure improvement projects or temporary road closures often have a severe impact on traffic, particularly in Abidjan.

Outside of Abidjan, road conditions vary from excellent to poor, and many roads suffer from years of neglect and little maintenance. Stretches of well-paved highway can, without warning, be interrupted by large potholes and washed-out or flooded segments. While sizable potholes are common within and outside of Abidjan, heavy rains often wash out heavily-trafficked dirt roads in outlying areas. Heavy rain can make unpaved roads impassable. There is no lighting along the majority of main thoroughfares outside of Abidjan.

Nighttime driving is hazardous due to decreased visibility and road banditry. U.S. Embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling at night outside of Abidjan or other major cities. The vast majority of victims have been Ivoirians traveling at night, often by public transportation or in commercial vehicles. Most cases of armed banditry occurred at night, though some incidences happened during daytime.

In 2017, a car full of travelers were mistaken for bandits and shot and killed by police.

In 2016, there were reports of individuals being robbed along major stretches of road outside of Abidjan.

Traffic laws are unevenly enforced, and traffic police are known to elicit bribes. The presence of Ivoirian security forces on roadways upcountry at night is limited/non-existent. Uniformed security checkpoints are common on major roadways throughout Côte d’Ivoire and often increase in number and intensity following security incidents. There are many official and unofficial roadblocks/checkpoints on the major routes outside of Abidjan. Knowing who is manning a checkpoint is difficult, given the wide range of uniform styles. Criminals, rogue security forces, and suspected ex-combatants have erected illegal roadblocks to shake down or rob travelers. The Ivoirian government continues to battle this issue and has created task forces within its security forces to police the issue. Still, even legitimate checkpoints may be run unprofessionally.

Persons cited for a traffic violation should request a receipt for any items confiscated or fines paid. It is legal to pay fines to police officers on the side of the road for small speeding violations not to exceed 2000 CFA (US$4). The amount should be clearly printed on the ticket. Some traffic violations (driving without insurance) may result in the driver being detained. For more information on self-driving, please review OSAC’s Report “Driving Overseas: Best Practices.”

Public Transportation Concerns

Use of public transportation can be dangerous. Taxi and minibus drivers are particularly aggressive and reckless, and traffic accidents occur frequently. New taxi services arranged by phone or the Internet may offer more secure and safe transportation. For more information on ride-sharing, please review OSAC’s Annual Briefing Report “Safety and Security in the Share Economy.” The quality of both metered taxis (red) and communal taxis (various colors) vary considerably. Many taxis often pick up multiple passengers, which can create dangerous or confusing situations. Passengers may also be at greater risk of theft and robbery in shared taxis; some taxi drivers have been involved in passenger robberies. The serviceability of buses and taxis is questionable due to lax and unenforced safety standards.

Aviation/Airport Conditions

Visitors should be aware of scams that occur at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport.

• One scam consists of someone offering expediting assistance through passport control and customs in exchange for payment in advance. Travelers are not required to pay police, customs, or immigration officers for any service.

• Another scam involves someone posing as a greeter/expediter/driver in the arrival area or at a hotel. At the airport, the scam artist may obtain the traveler’s name or organization by reading the placard of the legitimate greeter/expediter/driver and then positioning himself to guide the traveler to transportation where the traveler will be robbed.

• Another variation involves the scam artist posing as someone from an organization’s local affiliate. Visitors should make all travel arrangements in advance and devise a way to identify local support at the initial encounter.

Terrorism Threat

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Abidjan as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorist activity directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns

Mali-based terrorist groups, which include regional al-Qa’ida and ISIS affiliates, pose a threat to Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa more broadly. Many of these groups have stated or signaled their intention to target Westerners and countries whose governments support or participate in regional stabilization and/or counterterrorism efforts.

The government of Côte d’Ivoire has actively supported regional and international operations against extremist groups in Mali. Terrorist and criminal activity along Côte d’Ivoire’s border with Mali remains a growing concern as the security situation deteriorates in Mali. Mali-based terrorist groups have been known to kidnap Westerners. Mali-based al-Qa’ida affiliates have demonstrated their willingness and capacity to launch attacks outside of their main areas of operation in Mali and have specifically targeted soft targets frequented by foreigners. There have been multiple attacks, including on soft targets, in/near West African capital cities between 2015 and the end of 2017.

In 2017, a Colombian nun was kidnapped from Sikasso in southern Mali within 100 kilometers of Côte d’Ivoire’s northern border; this area was thought to be outside of terrorist groups’ main areas of operation. It is likely criminals were the initial abductors, and the victim was subsequently passed to terrorist groups. This incident indicates increasing collaboration between terrorist groups and criminal elements in Mali and the terrorist group’s expanding geographic reach in the region.

In March 2016, gunmen killed 19 people in Grand-Bassam in an indiscriminate shooting along a beach-front area and resort frequented by foreigners; al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility.

Certain members of Côte d’Ivoire’s large Lebanese community are known to provide financial support to Hezbollah.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Abidjan as being a HIGH-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Despite concerns about potential violence, presidential elections in 2015 and legislative elections in 2016 passed peacefully and without major incident. During these events, there were a few isolated protests that were quickly broken up by law enforcement.

Civil Unrest

In January 2017, disgruntled soldiers mutinied to demand payment of bonuses and wage increases in a number of locations. Former rebels who had been integrated into the security services led the mutiny. This inspired other, smaller protests led primarily by disgruntled members of the security services and other government workers. Protestors used roadblocks and gunfire to draw attention to their complaints but did not attack civilians. These protests generally were short-lived and sporadic. Aside from an exchange of gunfire between military units that resulted in two men being killed, the unrest did not result in any violent confrontations. Periodic violence and sometimes deadly episodes continue to percolate between and within security forces and demobilized rebels who have demonstrated potential to disrupt the capital and other major cities and towns. Bouaké has been a recurring site for mutinies and episodes of civil unrest.

Travelers should avoid demonstrations, protests, political rallies, and large crowds, as they can escalate to violence. Clashes among demonstrators or between protestors and security forces may occur with little warning. Police and security forces may disperse crowds using tear gas or other coercive measures, including force.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Severe storms can result in flooding and extended power outages. In low-lying areas, flooding is a major problem during the rainy season and can impede and/or damage roads. Flooding in 2014 caused extensive damage to poorly built homes.

There is often a general disregard for environmental standards, leaving land and water polluted. The government has made efforts to clean certain visible areas, but large sections of the lagoon and beaches near Abidjan remained littered with pollution and trash.

Côte d’Ivoire remains a major transit hub for wildlife trafficking.

Economic Concerns

Economic espionage occurs infrequently and is on par with other countries in Africa. If an economic-based crime is encountered, directly contact the Economic Police located in the Plateau district of Abidjan.

Drug-related Crimes

The extent of the illegal drug trade is not well-documented; however, West Africa is a known narcotics transit point between South America and Europe. Drug seizures of cannabis, cocaine, and heroin occur at the international airport and seaports, but a systematic counter-narcotics program is not in place. Cannabis, mainly from Ghana, is readily available and widely consumed. There are no indications of narco-violence in Côte d’Ivoire.

Police Response

Police are largely ineffective at deterring crime and are in need of significant training. They lack communication equipment, weapons, and vehicles, all of which severely limits their capacity to respond. Many gendarmes and police stations outside of Abidjan have one vehicle for the entire security force and often receive calls via cell phone. Any response to incidents of crime is slow and limited generally to writing a report. Further, the judicial system is ill-equipped to process and incarcerate criminals. There are frequent allegations of police corruption.

How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment

Incidents of police or security force harassment or detention of foreigners are rare but do occur. Numerous checkpoints may be used by legitimate security forces and police to extort money from drivers and passengers. U.S. citizens who become victims of police harassment should be polite and cooperative. U.S. citizens detained by the police should ask that the U.S. Embassy be notified immediately.

Crime Victim Assistance

Visitors requiring police assistance are advised to appear in person at either the police station in their area or the police headquarters in Plateau. After doing so, contact the Embassy’s consular section (Tel: (225) 22 49 45 94).

Police/Security Agencies

Abidjan’s Prefecture of Police/ Police Headquarters Tel: (225) 20 22 16 33 and (225) 20 22 16 87.

Medical Emergencies

While many medical services are available in Abidjan, the quality of medical care and facilities frequently does not meet U.S. standards. Most providers do not speak English. Doctors typically complete medical school in Côte d’Ivoire and specialized training in France. In general, ambulance response time can be very slow and may be severely delayed by traffic. Emergency response is extremely limited outside Abidjan and major cities.

Contact Information for Available Medical Services

For medical assistance including local facilities and physicians, please refer to the Embassy’s Medical Assistance page.

Available Air Ambulance Services

An International SOS contractor, Medicis, is based at the Abidjan’s international airport. Medicis can arrange helicopter medevac from areas outside of Abidjan to the city and facilitate international evacuation. Its emergency facility is equipped with ACLS, and Medicis has one Abidjan-based ACLS ambulance for ground transport. Medicis Tel: (225) 05 95 55 07 or (225) 21 75 29 63 or (225) 21 75 29 60

CEGA Air Ambulance Tel: (44) 0 1243 621 525

Insurance Guidance

Visitors should obtain air ambulance insurance before arriving. Serious illnesses/injuries often require travelers to be stabilized and then medical evacuation to locations where better medical care is available. Such medevac services are very expensive and are generally available only to travelers who either have travel insurance that covers medevac services or who can pay for the service in advance.

Hospitals often require advance payment for services, usually in cash.

Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

Travelers are reminded that they must have a yellow fever booklet from WHO bearing a valid stamp for yellow fever inoculation or risk being denied entry into Côte d’Ivoire until an inoculation can be administered.

Appropriate malaria prophylaxis is also strongly recommended.

The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Côte d’Ivoire.

OSAC Country Council Information

An OSAC Country Council was established in January 2012. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questions.

U.S. Embassy Location and Contact Information

Embassy Address and Hours of Operation

U.S. Embassy Abidjan is located in the Riviera Golf section of Cocody on Rues des Ambassades.

The Consular Section is open for American Citizen Services Mon-Thurs, 0800-1230 and 1330-1600. The Consular Section may also be reached in non-emergency situations via email.

Embassy Contact Numbers

Embassy Operator (225) 22 49 40 00

Duty Officer (225) 06 60 77 04

Marine Post One (225) 22 49 44 50 or (225) 22-43-91-49

Website: https://ci.usembassy.gov/

Embassy Guidance

U.S. citizens traveling in Côte d’Ivoire are encouraged to register in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is a free service that helps the U.S. Embassy disseminate information about safety conditions and contact travelers in an emergency.

Additional Resources

Côte d’Ivoire Country Information Sheet