
Côte d'Ivoire officially opened its first sugarcane distillery in Ferké 2 on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The facility, located at the SUCAF-CI production unit, was inaugurated in the presence of the Minister of Planning and Development, Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, and presided over by the Minister of Agriculture, Bruno Nabagné Koné, under the patronage of Vice-Prime Minister Téné Brahima Ouattara. This industrial development is a significant milestone for the Ivorian sugar industry, reinforcing the northern sugar basin as a key agro-industrial hub. The Ferké 2 distillery aims for the complete valorization of sugarcane, from production to processing. With an investment of 18 billion FCFA, it is projected to produce 12 million liters of 96-degree alcohol and create over 400 jobs. This output will cover nearly 50% of national needs, enhance local processing capacity, secure markets for planters, and open new opportunities for ethanol and industrial by-products. This project is a direct result of the unprecedented contract-plans signed on May 1, 2021, between the State of Côte d'Ivoire and sugar companies SUCAF-CI and SUCRIVOIRE, aimed at boosting the sugar industry's competitiveness. A total investment program of 151.063 billion FCFA was planned, with SUCAF-CI investing nearly 69 billion FCFA, achieving a 97% realization rate. The target production of 124,193 tons of sugar by 2025 was surpassed in the third year, with a record production of 130,194 tons during the 2023-2024 campaign
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Must ReadThe Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace RHDP has welcomed the Ivorian government's decision to dissolve the Independent Electoral Commission CEI, announced after the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Ibrahima Cissé Bacongo, on May 8, the ruling party acknowledged the decision, noting that the CEI had organized and supervised various elections in Côte d'Ivoire for the past twenty-five years. Despite its efforts, the electoral body had consistently faced criticism from political actors and civil society organizations. The RHDP expressed satisfaction that the government addressed these concerns by dissolving the institution. The party reaffirmed its full support for President Alassane Ouattara, stating that he continues to demonstrate his responsiveness to citizens' needs for a peaceful, prosperous, and united Côte d'Ivoire. The RHDP urged political actors and civil society organizations to fully engage in preserving peace and trust to establish a new electoral management mechanism that ensures calm elections in Côte d'Ivoire.
Must ReadThe Central Bank of West African States BCEAO hosted an international conference in Dakar on May 8, 2026, focusing on the opportunities and challenges presented by crypto-assets and digital innovations for monetary and financial stability. This event follows similar conferences in 2024 and 2025 on climate change and artificial intelligence, respectively. The conference aims to analyze the implications of these digital advancements and establish appropriate regulatory frameworks. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, Governor of the BCEAO, highlighted that crypto-assets, digital payment platforms, and the increasing digitalization of financial services are reshaping financial intermediation and challenging traditional regulatory and supervisory frameworks. He emphasized that while these tools are powerful drivers of modernization, they also introduce risks and vulnerabilities, calling for rigorous international dialogue on emerging digital finance issues. The BCEAO has initiated structural actions to support this transformation. Cheikh Diba, the Senegalese Minister of Finance and Budget, noted that these innovations offer unprecedented opportunities but also demand increased collective responsibility to address complex challenges related to regulation, security, and stability. He identified key risks such as the growth of shadow banking, excessive volatility in crypto-asset markets, fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, cyberattacks, and operational vulnerabilities. Diba expressed o
Must ReadThis article features an excerpt from the speech delivered by former President Laurent Gbagbo during the Central Committee meeting on May 7, 2026. The speech was published on Friday, May 8, 2026, by Autre Presse TV. The article is part of a larger collection of political activities from 2025-2026 on Abidjan.net, which also includes other news such as the dissolution of the CEI, the appointment of Ibrahime Coulibaly Kuibiert as President of the Council of State, and the adoption of the PND 2026-2030 by the Senate in Yamoussoukro.

Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé met with Tareq Muhmood, the regional president for Visa's CEMEA Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa zone, on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Abidjan-Plateau. Muhmood expressed Visa's intention to expand its activities in Côte d'Ivoire, highlighting the country as a "fantastic environment" for growing their business. He noted that this expansion aims to support digital payments within Côte d'Ivoire and neighboring West and Central African countries, fostering financial inclusion and economic development. Muhmood also emphasized Visa's goal to significantly contribute to the growth of the Ivorian economy, particularly through developing tourism and ensuring visitors can easily make payments to local merchants and economic operators. Visa officially opened its regional office in Abidjan in November 2017, following a memorandum of understanding.