
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Côte d'Ivoire's Vice President, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, met with a delegation from the International Basketball Federation FIBA at the Presidential Palace. The FIBA delegation was led by Anibal Manave, President of FIBA Africa. This meeting took place in advance of a FIBA Africa Central Bureau meeting scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Abidjan, with global basketball authorities in attendance. Anibal Manave expressed FIBA's gratitude to President Alassane Ouattara and the people of Côte d'Ivoire for their support in establishing basketball in the country, including the upcoming construction of the FIBA Africa headquarters and a basketball academy in Abidjan. The Minister of Sports, Adjé Silas Metch, also participated in the meeting.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Abidjan.net.
Must ReadArgentina secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, July 15, earning their place in the final against Spain. England initially took the lead in the 55th minute with a goal from Anthony Gordon after a goalless first half. The Three Lions maintained their defensive strength, appearing poised for qualification until the final minutes. However, Argentina, the reigning world champions, demonstrated resilience. Enzo Fernández equalized for Argentina in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal in stoppage time 90th+2 with a decisive strike. This spectacular win means Argentina will face Spain, who defeated France 2-0 in their semi-final, in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday. England will play France for third place on Saturday.
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, Côte d'Ivoire. The event was attended by the Vice-President of the Republic, Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, and numerous political, diplomatic, cultural, and media figures. Key speeches were delivered by the Ambassador of France to Côte d'Ivoire, Jean-Christophe Belliard, and the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Diaspora, Kaba Nialé. Ambassador Belliard highlighted the "exceptional" quality of relations between France and Côte 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 Côte d'Ivoire's development priorities through a balanced and sustainable partnership. Minister of State Kaba Nialé 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 Côte d'Ivoire. The ceremony concluded with the national anthems of both countries, performed with Afro-jazz influences, followed by informal exchanges a