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Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Cote d Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Intercountry Adoption Information
Updated to reflect safety and security information on the Northern Border Region, and additional points for mariners who decide to travel to Côte d’Ivoire.
Exercise increased caution due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and piracy. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel To:
Country Summary: Crime continues to be a major public security concern in Côte d’Ivoire. Violent crime, such as carjacking, robbery, and home invasion, is common in some areas. Local police often lack resources to respond to serious crimes.
Violent extremist activity occurs in Burkina Faso and Mali near the border with Côte d’Ivoire. Terrorism concerns in the northern region remain due to its proximity to these countries.
Travelers should avoid demonstrations, protests, political rallies, and large crowds. These events can become violent. Demonstrators and security forces may clash suddenly. Police may use tear gas or other force to break up crowds.
Piracy with armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom are significant threats to ships operating near Côte d’Ivoire. U.S. citizens on ships in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa should be cautious.
Health care in rural areas is below U.S. standards. There are often shortages of medicine and medical supplies in public and private health facilities.
The U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens outside Abidjan. U.S. Embassy staff are not permitted to drive outside major cities at night. Read the country information page for more information on travel to Côte d’Ivoire.
If you decide to travel to Côte d’Ivoire:
Northern Border Region – Level 4: Do Not Travel
The main terrorist threat to Côte d’Ivoire is from a group called Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). JNIM is linked to al-Qa’ida. JNIM mostly operates in the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso and Mali. The threat from JNIM has in the past reached northern Côte d’Ivoire, near the border with Burkina Faso. Attacks have happened in the Savanes and Zanzan Districts, including Comoé National Park. These attacks have mainly targeted Ivoirian security forces, but civilians have also been targeted. In 2021, Al-Qa’ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) carried out 17 small-scale attacks that killed approximately 20 people. After these attacks, the Côte d’Ivoire government increased security in northern Côte d’Ivoire. Since 2021, there have been no attacks.
Côte d'Ivoire is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the Convention; the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations and U.S. immigration adoption policies; and all applicable legislation and regulations of Côte d'Ivoire.
We are in the process of updating our Country Information Sheet for Côte d'Ivoire. Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at adoption@state.gov.
CÔTE D'IVOIRE’S ADOPTION AUTHORITY:
ACACI
2 Plateaux Cité SIDECI, Villa 172, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Tel: 225-27-22-20-08-27
Email: secretariatacaci@gmail.com
U.S. Embassy in Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire
Address: BP 730 Abidjan Cidex 03, Côte d'Ivoire
Tel: 225-27-22-49-40-00
Fax: 225-27-22-49-43-23
Email: AbjAmcit@state.gov
Internet: ci.usembassy.gov
Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov
http://adoption.state.gov
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC)
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1- 913-275-5480 (local);
Fax:1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov
For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov
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