Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire)

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Cote d’Ivoire, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Cote d’Ivoire, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Cote d’Ivoire. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. 

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations.

Articles

The US State Department's page on COTE D'IVOIRE may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AS OF OCTOBER 21, AUTHORITIES HAVE MAINTAINED COTE D'IVOIRE'S STATE OF EMERGENCY ACORSS THE COUNTRY AS PART OF THE NATION'S EFFORTS TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19). LAND AND SEA BORDERS ARE CLOSED. TRAVELERS ARRIVING IN COTE D'IVOIRE WILL NEED TO PRESENT A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS TAKEN UP TO SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE ARRIVAL. INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT THIS DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL.TRAVELERS WILL ALSO HAVE TO DELCARE THEIR TRIP ON THE OFFICIAL TRAVEL REPORTING PORTAL AND PAY CFA FRAC 2,000 (USD 3.57). TRAVELERS MUST PRESENT THE DECLARATION FORM AT THE PORT OF ENTRY.

EXERCISE INCREASED CAUTION IN COTE D'IVOIRE DUE TO CRIME AND TERRORISM.  SOME AREAS HAVE INCREASED RISK.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

The quality of health care in Cote d’Ivoire is generally poor. In Abidjan, only the Polyclinique International St. Anne Marie (PISAM) is considered up to western standards for surgery and intensive care. In the rest of Cote d’Ivoire the quality of health care is inadequate, and medical evacuation is recommended for serious illnesses or injuries. If the patient needs immediate treatment, consult this list of medical resources assembled by the US Embassy or contact Risk Services for assistance in identifying a recommended medical facility. If you need medication, bring enough for the duration of your stay, as not all medicines are available in Cote d’Ivoire.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

Travelers should assume the drinking water in Cote d’Ivoire is contaminated. Outbreaks of cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid are common. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, avoid tap water and ice cubes and drink only bottled, boiled, or purified water. Travelers should use sealed, well-recognized brands of bottled water whenever possible.

All food should be eaten well-cooked and hot. Fruits and vegetables should be peeled or soaked in disinfectant solution for at least 15 minutes prior to eating. Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors often maintain substandard hygiene regimens and should be avoided. Travelers should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Cote d’Ivoire, including:

  • Malaria, transmitted via mosquito bites, year-round throughout the country. Malaria causes one-third of all deaths in Cote d’Ivoire. Risk is highest during rainy seasons (April to July and September to December in the south; April to October in the north).
  • Tuberculosis. The World Health Organization puts Cote d’Ivoire in the high-risk range for tuberculosis. Travelers staying for an extended period should get a pre-departure PPD skin test. Avoid crowded public spaces and mass transportation whenever possible.
  • Cholera, transmitted via contaminated food or water. Outbreaks are most common during dry season (December to May and July to October in the coastal and central areas; November to May in the savannah).
  • Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes active during daylight.
  • Typhoid, transmitted via contaminated water, milk, shellfish, and other foods.
  • Hepatitis A, transmitted via fecally-contaminated food and drink.
  • Leishmaniasis, transmitted by sand flies, in rural areas.
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans (Buruli or Bairnsdale ulcer), mode of transmission unknown. The incidence of this condition is higher in Cote d’Ivoire than any other country. Treatment requires surgery.
  • African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis), transmitted by tsetse flies, in rural areas.
  • Schistosomiasis, spread by parasites in fresh-water bodies, especially in Abidjan, Adzope, by the shores of Lake Kossou, and the Man, Danane, and Korhogo areas.
  • Yellow fever, transmitted through mosquito bites and endemic throughout the country.
  • Zika virus, transmitted primarily through mosquito bites.

Crime is a concern in Cote d’Ivoire. Petty theft is common throughout the country. More serious crimes include burglaries of private residences and vehicles, carjackings, and robberies at residences, restaurants, and stores. Transportation can be hazardous; petty thieves are especially prominent on public transportation, and armed bandits roam the roads along border areas. In cities, travel via trusted vehicles. In rural areas, travel in multi-vehicle convoys, preferably with trusted local drivers, especially if using four-wheel-drive vehicles, which are coveted by carjackers.

Cote d’Ivoire is subject to periodic political unrest. Although Abidjan is relatively secure, regions bordering Liberia can be dangerous and should be avoided. Poorly disciplined soldiers have engaged in violent crime throughout the country, including in Abidjan, and may operate unauthorized checkpoints. The police commonly lack training and resources and have a reputation for corruption. Instances of police harassment or inappropriate detention of foreigners are rare, but do occur.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities prior to practicing or operating a business. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. 

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. 

Corruption: Government corruption remains a serious problem in Côte d’Ivoire, and has an impact on judicial proceedings, contract awards, customs, and tax issues. Uniformed security forces (police, military, and gendarmes) routinely stop vehicles for traffic violations and security checks. If you are stopped, politely present your identification. Police and security officials rarely speak English. If you are stopped at one of these checkpoints and asked to pay a bribe, politely refuse and present your photocopy of your U.S. passport, visa, and entry stamp.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Côte d’Ivoire. The only mention of same-sex sexual activity in the laws is as a form of public indecency that carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, the same prescribed for heterosexual acts performed in Côte d’Ivoire that contravene the law. Antidiscrimination laws exist, but they do not address discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Societal stigmatization of the LGBTI community is widespread, and police, gendarmes, and members of the armed forces reportedly beat, imprison, verbally abuse, extort, or humiliate members of the LGBTI community. The few LGBTI organizations in the country operate freely, but with caution.