Safety in Cote Divoire: what overland travellers should know

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 11 March 2026.

Safety

North: travel advised against — Travel to the north, on the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, is advised against because of the possible presence of terrorist groups. Jihadist militias cross the border frequently into the north-east, though no jihadist attack has been recorded on Ivorian soil since 2021. The army presence and surveillance in the north have been reinforced.
West and Liberian border — Travel is advised against, unless genuinely necessary, to the border areas with Liberia and to the provinces of Dix-Huit Montagnes, Haut Sassandra, Moyen-Cavally and Bas Sassandra. The rainy season brings intense weather that also hits the infrastructure there.
Districts of Abidjan — Adjamé, Yopougon and Abobo count as risk districts, especially at night and if you are unaccompanied. Crime linked to the spread of baby gangs affects the main cities and has started to reach the tourist and residential district of Cocody.
Checkpoints — Stay calm if you are stopped by the army or the local police at a checkpoint.
Robbery — Do not go around with valuables: robberies happen everywhere, central and residential districts included. If you are robbed, do not resist.
Scams — Scams against foreigners are not letting up. They are run by individuals or organised groups, often baiting victims online and then asking for money to be sent on various pretexts.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 11 March 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Cote Divoire before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 11 March 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.