Côte d’Ivoire nearly doubles Police force size since 2019

The National Police of Côte d’Ivoire grew its workforce to 35,000 agents for 2026, a 90.2% increase from 2019 levels.

The Directorate General of the National Police reported that the force added 16,600 officers over a seven year period. This expansion supports broader security initiatives across the country. To prepare for the year end holidays, the police will start the Marée jaune operation on 1 December 2026 to strengthen public safety.

Authorities have already deployed units to cities like Bouaké, Korhogo, and Daloa to combat crime and traffic violations. A previous operation in September led to the impoundment of over 3,500 vehicles and the arrest of 196 people. The government also uses specific road checks to monitor driver licenses, insurance, and alcohol consumption.