Côte d’Ivoire is experiencing a sharp rise in asylum arrivals, with authorities reporting more than 115,000 refugees currently in the country, primarily from Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Ghana.
During its first session of the year, the National Security Council was briefed on the growing humanitarian pressure and called for reinforced biometric registration to improve coordination and assistance efforts.
President Alassane Ouattara, who chaired the meeting on February 12, 2026, emphasized the need to manage the influx effectively while maintaining national stability and supporting host communities alongside displaced populations.
Beyond migration concerns, the Council reviewed the country’s security performance from 2012 to 2025, highlighting a significant improvement in safety indicators.
Officials reported a substantial decline in insecurity over the period, attributing progress to structural reforms targeting terrorism, illegal mining, and the protection of agricultural resources.
However, authorities acknowledged that road traffic accidents remain a persistent challenge, with plans underway for the Prime Minister to introduce new measures aimed at reducing fatalities and improving road safety nationwide.
