Rue Princesse in Abidjan’s Yopougon district became a famed nightlife hub after entrepreneur Charlie Beaux-Yeux opened the L’Image nightclub in 1991. Clubs there helped popularize zouglou and later coupé-décalé, drawing musicians, footballers and even then-president Laurent Gbagbo. Authorities demolished the street’s nightlife venues in 2011, citing urban sanitation and concerns including noise and prostitution. Although the clubs disappeared, Yopougon remains an important center of Ivorian music and popular nightlife, with biama reviving the area’s festive spirit.

Garba, a popular and inexpensive Ivorian meal of fried tuna, attiéké (cassava semolina) and spicy onion-tomato condiment, is widely eaten in Abidjan. Its name comes from former minister Dicoh Garba, who in the 1970s authorized the redistribution of tuna leftovers from the port, turning food waste into the basis of an affordable meal. Customers praise its freshness, taste, filling portions and convivial atmosphere, while rising port prices have led sellers to reduce portion sizes. Abidjan had at least 2,000 garbadromes in 2020, some serving as many as 500 customers daily.

Beninese singer OPA, born Tossou Paoli, discusses his musical roots, influences, and rapid rise after beginning his career in 2022. Raised in Bohicon and later based in Cotonou, he developed a sound blending Afrobeats and soul, drawing on local traditions and international influences. His early recognition included a Bénin Top 10 Awards emerging-artist prize and the release of the EPs Go Slow and Afrocharm. Winning the 2026 RFI Discovery Award, presented by MC Solaar, has opened new opportunities as he pursues an international career. OPA is preparing for a continental tour, with concerts planned in Cotonou and Parakou.

OPA, a rising Beninese afrobeats artist, reflects on his musical roots, early influences and rapid ascent after being named the RFI Discoveries Prize 2026 winner. His career gained momentum through early recordings, growing recognition, and influential mentors, leading to two EP releases and increased visibility. The award marks a turning point as he prepares for a continental tour and aims for broader international reach, with upcoming concerts in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin.

Côte d’Ivoire’s baccalaureate exams began on June 15, 2026, amid disruption for hundreds of students whose homes in Abidjan neighborhoods were recently demolished. Mariam lost her belongings when bulldozers razed her home during her oral exams, and she and classmates are now crowded into temporary shelter, where noise and trauma make studying difficult. Port-Bouët’s municipal support unit has heard from about 130 affected candidates and is seeking to facilitate transport and allow students to sit exams without uniforms, while authorities have also established phone lines for those who lost identification or exam documents. The municipality and education officials are working to organize make-up exams.

Hundreds of Abidjan students preparing for the baccalaureate face uncertainty after their homes were demolished less than a week before exams. Many lost belongings and struggle to study while sheltering with neighbors or relocating to distant communes. The Port-Bouët municipality has created a support unit offering transportation assistance, permission to take exams without uniforms and potential makeup sessions, while national authorities have set up hotlines for students who lost documents. Overall conditions remain difficult and destabilizing for affected candidates.

Côte d’Ivoire has more than 400,000 mobile money service points, but agents often run short of cash or electronic credit, leaving customers unable to withdraw and forcing some kiosks to close while they restock. Lost transactions reduce agents’ commissions and profitability. Abidjan startup Leya sends credit and cash to outlets by motorcycle, and says its service helps agents meet demand and raise revenue. Economist Kassoum Timité warns that liquidity shortages can slow transactions and weaken economic activity, particularly in the large informal sector. Daily mobile money transactions exceeded 140 billion CFA francs in 2024, nearly four times the 2020 level.

Demolitions resumed in Abidjan’s Port-Bouët district during the rainy season, displacing thousands from Vridi-Canal after the nearby Zimbabwe neighborhood was also razed. Residents describe losing homes and belongings, while opposition figures and Cojep criticize the operations as socially unjust and insufficiently planned. The government says the clearances are intended to restore urban order and protect people in hazardous, unsanitary areas, and cites compensation and relocation measures. It says affected households are to receive 250,000 CFA francs each and has announced plans to relocate more than 16,000 displaced people; six other Port-Bouët neighborhoods are also classified as at risk.

Mobile money agents in Côte d’Ivoire frequently face cash and credit shortages that reduce their ability to serve customers, causing lost revenue and diminished profitability. Operators pay small commissions per transaction, making continuous service essential for viability. Startups like Leya offer rapid cash and credit delivery to agents to reduce downtime, while economists note that disruptions in mobile money services slow transactions in the largely informal economy. Daily mobile money volumes reached more than 140 billion CFA francs in 2024, highlighting the system’s central role in national economic activity.

Evictions resumed in Abidjan during the rainy season, triggering criticism from opposition figures and affected residents as long‑standing informal settlements such as Vridi‑Canal are demolished. Officials argue the operations are intended to improve urban order and protect residents from hazardous living conditions, while opponents denounce a lack of planning, consultation, and social justice. Thousands have been displaced, with the government promising compensation and future resettlement in designated sites.