Is Côte d’Ivoire facing religious radicalism?

The report finds that while religious radicalism in Côte d’Ivoire has not reached the scale seen elsewhere in West Africa, the country remains vulnerable due to political instability, regulatory gaps, and socio-economic marginalisation. It details how Pentecostalist 'prophets' influenced the hardline posture of former President Laurent Gbagbo during the 2010-11 crisis and notes the presence of Wahhabi Islam. Additionally, it examines the Lebanese diaspora, noting that while most view Hezbollah as a 'national resistance movement' and provide financial support, there is currently no direct threat to Ivorian national security from this community.

• Pentecostalism significantly influenced the political leadership of former President Laurent Gbagbo, with 'prophets' providing spiritual legitimacy and encouraging a hardline military approach during the 2010-11 post-election crisis.
• The Ivorian Islamic landscape is diverse, primarily split between the 'traditionalist' Maliki branch and the purist, fundamentalist Wahhabi (or Salafi) current, the latter of which introduced changes such as the veil for women and the establishment of madrasas.
• The Lebanese community in Côte d’Ivoire is a major economic force, controlling over 50% of the economy through approximately 4,000 companies and contributing 15% of the country's tax revenues.
• Many Lebanese Shiites in Côte d’Ivoire support Hezbollah emotionally and financially, viewing the group as a legitimate resistance movement rather than a terrorist organisation, though this does not currently pose a direct threat to Ivorian national security.
• Côte d’Ivoire is vulnerable to radicalisation due to a combination of factors: a weakened state presence in the north and west, an outdated regulatory framework for religious associations (Law No. 60-315 of 1960), and widespread poverty and corruption.
• Regional geopolitical pressures, including the crisis in Mali and the influence of jihadist ideologies in the Sahel and northern Nigeria, increase the risk of radical trends spreading into Côte d’Ivoire.

APA

Assanvo, W. (2015). Is Côte d’Ivoire facing religious radicalism? Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/WestAfricaReport13ENG.pdf

Chicago

Assanvo, William. Is Côte d’Ivoire facing religious radicalism? Institute for Security Studies, 2015. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/WestAfricaReport13ENG.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Assanvo |first1=William |title=Is Côte d’Ivoire facing religious radicalism? |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=July 2015 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/WestAfricaReport13ENG.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{assanvo2015cte, author = {Assanvo, William}, title = {{Is Côte d’Ivoire facing religious radicalism?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2015}, month = jul, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/WestAfricaReport13ENG.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }