Communication in Ivory Coast

French is the official language of Ivory Coast. In everyday life, national languages are also used, particularly Dioula and Malinké. Formal applications, contracts and communication with authorities generally take place in French. The free public-services information line (Allo 101) provides information in French, English and 15 national languages, including Baoulé, Bété, Sénoufo and Yacouba. There is no nationally documented mandatory interpreting or sign-language service for all communication situations; depending on the location, local language speakers or Allo 101 can help with communication difficulties. Mobile communication dominates access to telephony and the internet. The country code is +225, and Ivorian telephone numbers have ten digits. The leading mobile operators are Orange CI, MTN CI and Moov Africa. In 2025, there were 38,476,765 mobile internet subscriptions; the calculated penetration rate was 117.5 percent because individual users may have several subscriptions. The approximate subscription-based market shares were 40 percent for Orange, 35 percent for MTN and 25 percent for Moov. Fixed-line, satellite and other internet services also exist, but only providers authorized by ARTCI may be used. A subscriber must be identified for a SIM card. Loss, theft or a change of SIM card should be reported to the provider. Providers must publish tariffs and contract conditions in advance. Costs depend on the provider and the selected offer; there is no uniform nationwide flat rate. In a covered area, ARTCI consumer information specifies at least 512 Kbit/s. Communication services are generally available around the clock, and a fault attributable to the operator should be repaired within no more than 24 hours. Users are entitled to the confidentiality and inviolability of their communications and to the protection of personal data. Access, correction, completion, clarification, updating and deletion of personal data are available free of charge. Commercial use of data can also be opposed free of charge. Unordered services may not be charged. Users may generally choose a number or service themselves; access to emergency calls is free of charge. Premium and value-added services can be blocked free of charge. For problems with telephony, the internet, Mobile Money, postal services or personal data, first contact the provider or the entity processing the data. Contracts, tariffs, reference numbers, screenshots and payment receipts should be saved. If the initial complaint is insufficient, the Ivorian Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies Regulatory Authority (ARTCI) can be contacted. A complaint to ARTCI requires a prior complaint to the provider. For collective problems, a report can be submitted; ARTCI can review the case and mediate. The listed contact details are +225 27 22 22 43 10 and consommateurs@artci.ci. For emergencies, the numbers are 101 for the government, 110, 111 and 170 for the police, 145 for the gendarmerie, 180 for the fire service, 185 for ambulance services and 143 for health services. Availability depends on the network and the relevant service and should be checked in the specific area. Postal services in Ivory Coast include the Ivorian national postal service (La Poste de Côte d’Ivoire), which offers letters, parcels, postal boxes and tracking. A postal box (Boîte Postale, BP) is a mailbox; MAPOSTE enables certain postal services online or at an agency. According to the available reference prices, national letters cost from 250 XOF, parcels from 1,000 XOF, a BP from 10,000 XOF and Documents.ci from 3,500 XOF. Price and delivery time depend on the service and route; no uniform delivery time is guaranteed for the entire country. International shipments may trigger additional customs and documentation requirements. Digital government services are available, among other places, through gouv.ci, annuaire.gouv.ci and E-Services, although electronic documents may have the same legal value as paper documents depending on the procedure. National infrastructure and skills barriers make access more difficult, especially in remote areas and for some women, young people and people with disabilities. A uniform nationwide sign-language or Braille standard for general communication services has not been documented.