Crime in Ivory Coast

Crime patterns in Ivory Coast differ considerably across the country. Abidjan can present risks from street hold-ups, armed break-ins, theft and violent crime, especially after dark. The northern Savanes and Zanzan regions, areas near Mali and Burkina Faso, and parts of Comoé National Park face risks linked to attacks and kidnapping by armed groups. The border area with Liberia, particularly Cavally, San Pedro and Tonkpi, has additional conflict and armed-violence risks. Other areas are not automatically safe, because risks still depend on the neighbourhood, road and current local conditions. Common offences include pickpocketing, bag-snatching, burglary, assault, armed robbery, car theft, carjacking and home invasion. On remote or secondary roads, armed robbers may stop vehicles. The Gulf of Guinea also presents risks of maritime piracy, armed robbery and kidnapping. Sexual violence, domestic violence, trafficking and child exploitation require separate protection and reporting responses. After dark, avoid walking and unplanned public transport where security conditions are uncertain. Use a taxi arranged in advance or a reputable taxi application when available. Choose accommodation with functioning locks, controlled access and other security measures. Keep valuable items and expensive jewellery out of sight, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, watch payment cards during transactions, and lock doors and windows. If someone threatens you during a robbery, do not resist. Check current local warnings and distinguish official checkpoints from unofficial ones. In an immediate emergency, move to a safe place and contact the Police nationale or Gendarmerie nationale. The police emergency numbers cited by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are 110, 111 and 170, but local availability should be confirmed before relying on them. Ambulance services are listed at 185 and fire services at 180. Ask for a report or written record of a complaint. Preserve screenshots, transaction records, document copies and other evidence without altering them. After violence, seek medical documentation as soon as possible when safe to do so. The Police nationale and Gendarmerie nationale provide the main formal reporting channels. The Ministère de la Sécurité et de la Protection civile, the Ministère de la Justice et des Droits de l’Homme, local authorities and prefectures may also become involved. For cybercrime, the Plateforme de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité (PLCC) receives physical complaints, supports victims, investigates and conducts public awareness work. The Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information (ANSSI) publishes cybersecurity information. Phishing, fake profiles, account and payment fraud, identity theft, online extortion and mobile-money fraud should be reported promptly after the affected account or service has been secured. Formal victim support is fragmented rather than provided through one uniform nationwide service. For gender-based violence, the Programme national de lutte contre les violences basées sur le genre (PNLVBG) and the free 1308 hotline can provide guidance and support to victims and witnesses. Medical, psychosocial and social assistance from services sociaux, centres sociaux and nongovernmental organizations depends on the locality and programme. Ask in advance about confidentiality, interpretation, costs, protective measures and waiting times. Access to support and the filing of a formal complaint are related but separate pathways. Children and adolescents may need protection as victims, witnesses or suspected offenders. Violence, exploitation, street-connected children and children in conflict with the law require an age-appropriate response. Do not confront a minor suspected of an offence. Involve a trusted adult, the Police nationale or Gendarmerie nationale, and local social services or a centre social. Reports that around 80% of children aged 2 to 14 experience violent discipline and that one quarter of students experience sexual harassment describe protection indicators, not registered crime prevalence. No harmonised current nationwide crime-prevalence figure provides a complete comparison between all regions. Police access can also vary because of distance, language, costs, documents, trust, staffing and the security situation. Local responsibility, reporting availability and likely waiting times should therefore be confirmed at the place where the incident occurred. Criminal-law sanctions, consumer refunds and disaster response are separate matters, although they may become relevant after a crime.