
Amadou Coulibaly, Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, visited the Abidjan Arts and Spectacle Market MASA on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, and encouraged artists to promote African culture. The event, which officially opened on Saturday, April 12, 2026, at the Treichville Culture Palace, saw Coulibaly tour various stands, including the International Audiovisual Content Exhibition SICA. Accompanied by Fran莽oise Remarck, the Minister of Culture and Francophonie, Coulibaly met with art critics and emphasized the importance of young Africans telling their own stories. He stated that the continent has much to offer and that Africans must narrate their history through their own content. Coulibaly also highlighted the role of art critics in this endeavor and urged them to focus on promoting African culture, asserting that if Africans do not value their own works, no one else will. He noted that this vision aligns with the SICA, whose fourth edition is scheduled for November. Fran莽oise Remarck praised Coulibaly's efforts in the success of the 14th edition of MASA, recalling that President Alassane Ouattara initiated the event in 1993 when he was Prime Minister. She encouraged new art critics to use MASA as a platform to showcase their talent and help C么te d'Ivoire shine. The ministers also visited the "innovation village" and appeared on MASA TV. The first cohort of art criticism training for MASA's 14th edition selected 15 candidates from 276 applicants, with the best c
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Must ReadThe Ivorian National Monitoring Committee for Actions Against Trafficking, Exploitation, and Child Labor CNS launched a capacity-building workshop for Social Traceability Operations Agents AOTS in Yamoussoukro from July 12 to 16, 2026. These agents, deployed in production zones in partnership with the Coffee-Cocoa Council, monitor social practices, verify the absence of child labor in plantations, and educate producers on human rights. The workshop, following an evaluation by the Public-Private Partnership Platform's technical secretariat that identified operational difficulties, includes two phases: validating AOTS tools and activities, and training on the social aspects of cocoa production. Dr. GBONGUE Mamadou, Deputy Director for Projects and Monitoring-Evaluation at the Coffee-Cocoa Council, emphasized the need to equip this surveillance brigade to ensure optimal social traceability and eradicate child labor. Mr. Amani KONAN, national consultant to the Office of the First Lady, highlighted the Ivorian authorities' commitment to this fight, led by Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, and presented CNS initiatives. Mrs. AIPO Melissa Djama, Technical Secretary of the Public-Private Partnership Platform, stated the workshop aims to define a clear roadmap and strengthen coordination, commending the CNS, ILO, and ICI Foundation's involvement. Social traceability in the coffee-cocoa sector encompasses mechanisms to monitor producers' living and working conditions throughout the supply chain

The French National Day, Bastille Day, was celebrated on July 14, 2026, at the Residence of France in Abidjan, C么te d'Ivoire. The event was attended by the Vice-President of the Republic, Prime Minister Robert Beugr茅 Mamb茅, and numerous political, diplomatic, cultural, and media figures. Key speeches were delivered by the Ambassador of France to C么te d'Ivoire, Jean-Christophe Belliard, and the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Diaspora, Kaba Nial茅. Ambassador Belliard highlighted the "exceptional" quality of relations between France and C么te d'Ivoire, emphasizing the values of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, and their relevance to the cooperation between the two nations. He also noted the dynamic nature of the Franco-Ivorian partnership, which includes diversified cooperation in economic, educational, security, and environmental sectors. Belliard reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting C么te d'Ivoire's development priorities through a balanced and sustainable partnership. Minister of State Kaba Nial茅 conveyed greetings from the Head of State, Alassane Ouattara, to the French Republic. She praised the strong historical ties and progress in bilateral cooperation, advocating for increased economic exchanges and investments, and reiterating France's role as a key strategic partner for C么te d'Ivoire. The ceremony concluded with the national anthems of both countries, performed with Afro-jazz influences, followed by informal exchanges a

Vice President Ti茅moko Meyliet Kon茅 met with Master Artisan Chocolatier Cheffe Viviane Kouam茅 on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Presidential Palace. Kouam茅, the first woman to achieve the title of Master Chocolatier in West Africa, expressed her honor and happiness at presenting her work, career, and global accolades to the Vice President. She received the Excellence Award for Best Artisan in C么te d'Ivoire in 2024. Kouam茅 aims to expand her production to cover both national and international markets, and to further represent C么te d'Ivoire at international exhibitions with her range of local-flavored chocolate products, including atti茅k茅 chocolate. She encouraged fellow chocolatiers and pastry chefs to promote their professions. Vice President Kon茅 congratulated her on her work in cocoa transformation, the promotion of cocoa-derived products, and her commitment to showcasing C么te d'Ivoire's capabilities, aligning with President Alassane Ouattara's industrialization goals. The Minister, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Emmanuel Ahoutou Koffi, also attended the meeting.