Timbuktu Institute – Week 1 - February 2026 

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, a technical incident involving Air France flight AF 702 occurred at Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport. All 283 passengers were evacuated as a precautionary measure, with no injuries reported, according to airport authorities. Initial findings point to a navigation error by the pilot while taxiing, which necessitated the preventive evacuation of the aircraft. While the event caused considerable alarm, it above all highlighted the effectiveness of safety procedures and the responsiveness of the technical teams mobilized to clear the aircraft and restore the smooth flow of air traffic.

Security reinforcement: the European Union supports the FACI

In a regional context marked by the persistent threat of terrorism, Côte d'Ivoire is also continuing to strengthen its military capabilities. The European Union has officially handed over 40 vehicles to the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FACI). This donation includes 34 troop transport vehicles, three double-cab pickups, and three Iveco tow trucks. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Téné Birahima Ouattara welcomed this strategic support, emphasizing that it would improve operational responsiveness, protect populations, and secure sensitive areas, particularly in the north of the country. According to him, this support is of operational and strategic importance. The donation is considered a key lever for strengthening the effectiveness of the forces, improving the protection of civilians, and consolidating the security of at-risk areas, particularly in northern Côte d'Ivoire, which is exposed to cross-border security threats from its immediate neighbors, who are plagued by widespread terrorism.

Diplomatic tensions with Niger: Abidjan raises its voice

On the diplomatic front, Abidjan is facing rising tensions with Niger. The Ivorian authorities have reacted strongly to accusations by General Abdourahamane Tiani, who implicated President Alassane Ouattara in a jihadist attack at Niamey airport. The Ivorian government has rejected these allegations and said it is awaiting an official response from Niamey, calling for restraint and respect for the principles of good neighborliness in a region already weakened by security instability. This position demonstrates the Ivorian government's desire to defuse diplomatic tensions, contest the accusations against it, prioritize dialogue with Niamey, and reaffirm its commitment to the principles of good neighborliness and regional stability, in an already highly unstable security context in Niger. This tension also has direct social repercussions.

Nigerien diaspora in Côte d'Ivoire: concerns and calls for calm in the face of tensions with Niger

In Côte d'Ivoire, the Nigerien diaspora, which numbers more than 700,000 people, is expressing growing concern about threats made on social media by certain activists calling for economic reprisals. Highly integrated into the Ivorian economic fabric, particularly in the trade, services, and crafts sectors, this community is exercising caution and discretion. Many nationals emphasize the historical and human ties between the two countries, once “brothers,” and are calling for calm and dialogue to avoid any escalation between communities. Many of them have emphasized the human and historical dimension of relations between Côte d'Ivoire and Niger, recalling that beyond political and diplomatic tensions, the historical, migratory, and social ties between the two peoples are deep.