Abidjan, 8 June 2026 – The main stories in Côte d’Ivoire this Monday revolve around the ongoing wave of demolitions and forced evictions across Abidjan, the election of new leadership at the National Union of Journalists of Côte d’Ivoire (UNJCI), and the country’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Euphrasie N’Guessan expressed solidarity with those affected by the evictions, while opposition figure Pascal Affi N’Guessan called the situation a failure for President Alassane Ouattara. The government is attempting to ease grievances, but the opposition remains critical of the ruling party’s housing policy, with some saying it has left many homeless. An investigation into the Koumassi Campement evictions suggests a vast plot against the poor. Emergency measures were adopted after a crisis meeting led by Beugré Mambé, although residents claim they were indeed warned.
The 12th congress of the UNJCI ended with the election of Marie Laure N’Goran as president of the executive council, a move welcomed by many as a fresh start for the journalists’ union.
In political parties, the PPA-CI elected Guéi Sylvie Epse Doukoula as national secretary of the women’s league, with calls for unity and action. Meanwhile, the ruling RHDP party’s youth wing announced ambitious plans for membership drives, training, and political diplomacy.
A vice-prime minister received an award as best defence minister of the decade in the ECOWAS space. Separately, an investigation into the death of a gold panner in Brou-Akpaoussou sheds light on what really happened.
On the sports front, all eyes are on the United States for the World Cup, where Côte d’Ivoire will face Ecuador on 15 June in Philadelphia. The national team, the Elephants, is fully immersed in the American dream, with high hopes for this tournament.
Other notable stories include reported tensions in the Chamber of Kings and Traditional Chiefs in Diabo and Languibonou, as well as important decisions by the education minister regarding student placements in sixth grade and tenth grade.