🇨🇮Côte d'IvoireWest Africa
La Banque De l’Union Côte d’Ivoire opens new agency in Yamoussoukro to strengthen national network
via Abidjan.net7 min read
La Banque De l’Union Côte d’Ivoire BDU-CI announced on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the opening of a new agency in Yamoussoukro, the country's political capital. The agency, located in the Millionnaire district on Houphouët-Boigny Avenue, opened on April 17, 2026. This expansion brings the total number of BDU agencies in Côte d’Ivoire to 19, with 5 now situated outside the Abidjan area. The bank's management stated that Yamoussoukro was chosen as a key administrative hub to foster closer ties with state institutions and support local economic development. The bank emphasized that proximity is crucial for understanding, serving, and supporting clients, aiming to build a balanced network across the country. BDU-CI seeks to serve a diverse clientele, including individuals, professionals, and merchants. In addition to its growing physical presence, the bank leverages its 24/7 digital services to provide what it describes as simple, fast, and secure banking solutions. As a subsidiary of the BDU group, which operates in several countries in the sub-region, BDU-CI continues its growth strategy focused on customer satisfaction and personalized support within Côte d’Ivoire's increasingly competitive banking sector.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Abidjan.net.
Former Ivorian international footballer Abdoulaye Traoré, also known as Ben Badi, has been sentenced to three years in prison for the rape of a 19-year-old girl in 2021. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, by the Abidjan-Plateau Court of First Instance. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a 10-year deprivation of civil rights for Ben Badi, a five-year ban from residing in Bouaké, and ordered him to pay 15 million FCFA in damages to the victim. Abdoulaye Traoré is a member of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council CESEC of Côte d'Ivoire and was a key player for the Ivorian national football team, winning the Africa Cup of Nations CAN in 1992.
A delegation from Ghana's Tree Crops Development Authority TCDA visited Côte d'Ivoire from April 20 to 26, 2026, to learn from its experience in organizing and governing the cashew sector. The visit, part of the "Cashew Partnership Ghana – Côte d’Ivoire" initiative, involved meetings with the Cotton Cashew Shea Council and other cashew industry stakeholders. The TCDA is responsible for developing and regulating six strategic perennial crops in Ghana, including cashew, mango, coconut, oil palm, rubber, and shea. Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, Executive Director of the TCDA, led the delegation, which was hosted by Mr. Mamadou BERTÉ, Director General of the Cotton Cashew Shea Council. Discussions focused on the challenges of production, marketing, and regulation of agricultural products, particularly cashew, in the context of significant cross-border flows. Mr. BERTÉ highlighted the common concern of uncontrolled product circulation and international price fluctuations impacting producers, emphasizing the need for better policy coordination and concerted regulatory mechanisms. He stated that the "leakage of products to neighboring countries" is a major challenge, calling for joint efforts to manage these flows and find common solutions to secure production and organize local processing. He also stressed the importance of establishing a sustainable collaboration framework, noting that a common marketing strategy could positively influence the global market, given Ghana's estimated producti
Former international Ben Badi was convicted of rape by the Abidjan court, according to a report from Abidjan.net TV published on Thursday, April 23, 2026. This news was featured in the "Titrologue" section, which highlights daily headlines. The article is part of a broader collection of societal and miscellaneous news from 2026, covering various events across Côte d'Ivoire and the wider region.
Assalé Tiémoko, the new mayor of Tiassalé, Ivorian journalist, and former deputy and president of the Côte d’Ivoire de Demain ADCI party, was released from the Abidjan police headquarters in the early hours of Thursday, April 23, 2026. His release followed more than 15 hours of questioning, which began on Wednesday morning at 10:10 AM. Mr. Tiémoko was not immediately taken into custody or charged. His lawyers stated that the interrogations focused on four accusations: disturbing public order, incitement to revolt, discrediting state institutions, and spreading false news. A source close to the matter confirmed that Mr. Assalé Tiémoko has returned home and, at this stage, no charges have been filed against him. The case has been transferred to the judicial authorities, and the Public Prosecutor will decide whether to open a judicial investigation after reviewing the interrogation report. Assalé Tiémoko is a prominent media figure in Côte d'Ivoire, known for his strong opinions.