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Côte d'Ivoire
Country Specific Information
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January 14, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: 
Cote 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 where the Ivorian government and the U.S. Embassy are located.
Cote d'Ivoire is a republic whose constitution provides for separate branches of government under a strong president.
The country has experienced continued, periodic episodes of political unrest and violence, sometimes directed against foreigners,
since 2002 when a failed coup attempt evolved into an armed rebellion that split the country in two. Ivorian President Laurent
Gbagbo and New Forces leader Guillaume Soro signed the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) in March 2007 and a new government
was formed with Soro as Prime Minister. Implementation of the accord has been slow and although the political situation has
improved, it still has not returned to normal. UN and French peacekeepers remain 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 Background Notes on Cote d’Ivoire for additional information.
Foreign travelers are sometimes approached at ports of entry by individuals with offers to expedite passport control and customs,
and are then asked to pay an exorbitant fee, both for the service and for the passport and customs officers. Travelers to
Cote d'Ivoire are advised that there is no need to pay a police officer or customs officer at the airport for any service
rendered during an arrival or departure, and they should not surrender their passports or other important documents to anyone
except easily identifiable government officials in uniform.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
Political instability has contributed to economic stagnation and high unemployment, exacerbating social tensions and creating the potential for labor unrest and civil disorder. There have been recurring episodes of violence, some of them severe. In November 2004, there was a brief resumption of hostilities followed by widespread attacks against people and property in Abidjan and elsewhere. Many of these attacks were directed against French and other expatriates, and thousands fled the country. Brief episodes of significant civil unrest in Abidjan and some of the other population centers occurred in late 2005 and again in late 2006. Americans should avoid crowds and demonstrations, be aware of their surroundings, and use common sense to avoid situations and locations that could be dangerous. While the OPA serves as a roadmap to steer the country out of its political crisis, coup attempts or the resumption of hostilities, although unlikely, could occur.
Swimming in coastal waters is dangerous and strongly discouraged, even for excellent swimmers. The ocean currents along the
coast are powerful and treacherous, and numerous people drown each year.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of
Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for
callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Crime continues to be a major security threat for Americans living in Cote d'Ivoire. Grab-and-run street crime and pick pocketing in crowded areas are widespread. Armed carjacking, robberies of businesses and restaurants, and home invasions are common, and they often target expatriate residents who are perceived as wealthy. Armed criminals use force when faced with resistance. Travelers displaying jewelry and carrying cameras are especially at risk. Travelers are advised to carry limited amounts of cash and only photocopies of key documents. While there have been relatively few reported cases of sexual assault, given the general climate of criminality, the actual rate of assault may be much higher than that which is reported. There were allegations of sexual assaults during the November 2004 civil strife. Given the strong anti-French sentiment, people of non-African appearance may be specifically targeted for violence. Avoid large gatherings and political demonstrations, as they can turn violent quickly.Travel outside of Abidjan or at night is strongly discouraged, and it is particularly dangerous to visit Abidjan's Treichville,
Adjame, Abobo, and Plateau districts after dark. The DeGaulle and Houphouet-Boigny bridges in Abidjan are dangerous areas
for pedestrians. Inadequate resources and training limit the ability of the police to combat crime. Many hotels, restaurants,
nightclubs and supermarkets provide security guards to protect clients and vehicles.
Take the same common sense precautions in Abidjan that you would in any metropolitan area in the United States. 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, doorways, bushes, alleys and sparsely populated areas. If you go out at night and need transportation, take an Orange
metered taxi. Be discreet about your transactions, especially in sight on the street. Normal spending habits of Westerners
appear extravagant.
Credit card use in Cote d'Ivoire is limited, particularly outside Abidjan, but credit card fraud is an increasing problem. Unless the credit card transaction is electronically performed in view of the individual, you should not use your credit cards in paper transactions.
Business fraud is rampant and the perpetrators often target foreigners, including Americans. Schemes previously associated with Nigeria are now prevalent throughout West Africa, including Cote d'Ivoire, and pose a danger of grave financial loss. Typically these scams begin with unsolicited communication (usually e-mails) 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. Of course, the final payoff does not exist; the purpose of the scam is simply to collect the advance fees. A common variation is the scammer’s claim to be a refugee or émigré of a prominent West African family, or a relative of a present or former political leader who needs assistance in transferring large sums of cash. Still other variations appear to be legitimate business deals that require advance payments on contracts. Sometimes victims are convinced to provide bank account and credit card information and financial authorization that drains their accounts, incurs large debts against their credit, and takes their life savings.
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 one has never met the correspondent. You should carefully check and research any unsolicited
business proposal before committing any funds, providing any goods or services, and undertaking any 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 cell phones. In Cote d'Ivoire, most cell phone numbers start with zero.
It is virtually impossible to recover money lost through these scams. For additional information please consult the Department
of State's brochure International Financial Scams.
See our information on Victims of Crime. MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Abidjan has privately-run medical and dental facilities that are adequate but do not fully meet U.S. standards. Good physician specialists can be found, though few speak English. While pharmacies are well stocked with medications produced in Europe, newer drugs may not be available. Medical care in Cote d'Ivoire outside of Abidjan is extremely limited. Malaria is a serious health problem in Cote d’Ivoire. For more information on malaria, including protective measures, see the Centers for Disease Control Travelers’ Health web site at http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/.
The avian influenza or “Bird Flu” virus (H5N1) has been confirmed in animals in Cote d’Ivoire as of June 2006. For more information regarding Avian Influenza, please visit the CDC’s Internet site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentAvianFluInformation.aspx and the State Department’s Avian Influenza Fact Sheet.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s internet site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas. TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Cote d’Ivoire is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.Serious traffic accidents, one of the greatest threats to U.S. citizens in Cote d’Ivoire, occur regularly in Abidjan. Unsafe road conditions, unskilled drivers, and poorly maintained and overloaded vehicles create very poor driving conditions. Speed limits, signals, and yielding for pedestrians and cyclists are not respected. 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 must drive at night, beware of vehicles without headlights and/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 travel by bus, use only the “Express” line. In Abidjan, taxis are readily available, inexpensive (metered), but poorly maintained and notorious for not respecting the rules of the road. Communal taxis (“woro-woros”), used only within the limits of each commune, are not metered and are dangerous. Local vans ("Gbaka") should not be used because they are frequently involved in accidents.
Criminals usually steal vehicles when the driver is in or near the vehicle, so car doors and windows should be kept locked. 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, don’t go to your vehicle, but go get assistance. When getting into or out of your vehicle, do so as quickly as possible as this is when you are most vulnerable to carjacking.
If you are the victim of a carjacking, do not resist. Try to remain calm and give the carjackers what they want, which is usually the vehicle and any valuables that you may possess. Experience shows that criminals usually don’t use violence unless they are confronted with resistance. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to take an occupant, usually a woman or child, as hostage to ensure their safe escape; the hostage is usually released unharmed. This is a very difficult situation, so use your best judgment at the time to decide your course of action.
A newer phenomenon is the staged accidental "bumping" accident. If your vehicle is "bumped" from the rear or the side, stay
locked inside because this ruse is used to get the driver out and leave the vehicle free for carjacking. If you have a cell
phone, call for assistance. If you feel your safety is in jeopardy, report the accident at the nearest police station as
soon as possible. Try to get the license number for any other vehicle involved.
Emergency services such as ambulance service (SAMU) exist in Abidjan and larger towns, but such service is unreliable. Call
185 or 22-44-55-53. 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.
If traveling to another West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) country, expatriate residents leaving Cote d’Ivoire
must declare the amount of currency being taken out of the country; if going to any other country, tourists are prohibited
from taking more than 500,000 CFA francs (approximately $1,000), and business operators two million CFA francs (approximately
$4,000), without government approval. Even with authorization, there is a cash limit of $4,000 for tourists and $5,500 for
business people, with any surplus in travelers or bank checks.
Carry a photocopy of your U.S. passport, visa, and entry stamps. Also, carry your international driver's license with you,
especially if you drive. An American driver’s license is not valid for driving in Cote d’Ivoire.
Government corruption remains a serious problem in Cote d'Ivoire, and has an impact on judicial proceedings, contract awards, customs, and tax issues. Security forces (police, military, gendarmes) routinely stop vehicles for traffic violations and security checks. If you are stopped, politely present your identification. If you are stopped at one of these check points for any reason and asked to pay a "fine" to these uniformed officials, politely refuse and present your photocopy of your U.S. passport, visa, and entry stamp.
Taking pictures is prohibited near sensitive installations, including military sites, government buildings such as the radio
and television stations, the Presidency building, the airport, and the DeGaulle and Houphouet-Boigny bridges in Abidjan.
Cote d’Ivoire recognizes dual nationality if acquired at birth. Americans who also are Ivorian nationals may be subject, while in Côte d'Ivoire, to certain aspects
of Ivorian law that impose special obligations on citizens of that country.
Please see our Customs Information.
* * *
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 21, 2007, to update information in the Country Description, Entry and
Exit Requirements, Safety and Security, Crime, and Traffic Safety sections.
