Mother’s Day 2026: First Lady Dominique Ouattara Celebrates the Women of South Comoé
On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Aboisso came alive with the official Mother’s Day celebration, held under the patronage of First Lady Dominique Ouattara.
This major event, held at Alexis Elleingand Etché Square, brought together thousands of women from the departments of Aboisso, Adiake, Grand-Bassam, and Tiapoum in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, gratitude, and solidarity.
The event witnessed the presence of numerous prominent figures, notably Ms. Henriette Konan Bédié and Ms. Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, former First Ladies of Côte d’Ivoire and natives of the Sud-Comoe region. Their participation in this celebration was a particularly symbolic moment, hailed by the public as an eloquent illustration of national unity, social cohesion, and living together in harmony.
Joining the First Lady were Mrs. Maïmouna Koné, heads of institutions, members of the government, administrative, traditional, and religious leaders, as well as numerous dignitaries and executives from the South-Comoe region.
A Heartfelt Tribute to Ivorian Mothers
This celebration provided an opportunity for Mrs. Dominique Ouattara to pay a heartfelt tribute to all the mothers of Côte d’Ivoire, and more particularly to those of Sud-Comoe, for their courage, dedication, and essential contribution to the well-being of families and the development of the country.
In her address, the First Lady praised the dynamism and resilience of the region’s women, recognized for their involvement in the agricultural, commercial, and entrepreneurial sectors. She also commended the people of Sud-Comoé for their commitment to the values of peace, fraternity, and social cohesion. “I am convinced that it is only when our families are prosperous and thriving that our country can move forward and develop in peace. I urge you to continue to be agents of social cohesion and the sense of community that is so dear to us,” she said.
The FAFCI has been increased with 500 million CFA francs
Beyond paying tribute to mothers, this 2026 Mother’s Day celebration was marked with tangible actions aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment. Indeed, true to her commitment through the Support Fund for Women of Côte d’Ivoire (FAFCI), Mrs. Dominique Ouattara announced the allocation of an additional 500 million CFA francs for the benefit of women in the South-Comoe region. “Today, to help you further develop your businesses, I am granting you an additional 500 million CFA francs. This will bring the total amount allocated by the FAFCI in the region to 4.4 billion CFA francs,” she said to the loud applause of the beneficiaries.
The First Lady noted that since its inception in 2012, the FAFCI has established itself as a powerful tool for financial inclusion and economic empowerment. To date, more than 430,000 Ivorian women have benefited from its funding. In South-Comoe, nearly 3.9 billion CFA francs had already been invested in women’s income-generating activities, with a remarkable repayment rate of 97.62%.
Donations worth over one billion CFA francs
The ceremony also featured the distribution of food and non-food donations worth 600 million CFA francs. In addition, cash donations totaling 16 million CFA francs were made, along with 5,000 sets of african fabric presented to the women.
With the additional funding from the FAFCI, the First Lady has thus mobilized over one billion CFA francs for the women of South Comoe, proof of her ongoing commitment to improving their living conditions and empowering them.
Tributes from the local authorities to the First Lady
Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, President of the Economic, Social, Environmental, and Cultural Council (CESEC) and President of the South Comoe Regional Council, paid a heartfelt tribute to the First Lady for her numerous social and humanitarian initiatives carried out over the past two decades to benefit vulnerable populations.
He also welcomed the presence of Ms. Henriette Konan Bédié and Ms. Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, noting that this powerful image conveyed a message of hope for strengthening social cohesion and national unity.
Ms. Nassénéba Touré, Minister of Women, Family, and Children, expressed her gratitude to the First Lady for her ongoing commitment to women’s well-being. She noted that the city of Adiake is home to the “Safe Home” Women’s Center, a shelter and care center for victims of gender-based violence, established with the support of the Children of Africa Foundation.
The Minister Delegate to the Minister of Technical Education, Vocational Training, and Apprenticeship, in charge of Technical Education and Vocational Training, Mr. Jean-Louis Moulot, Chair of the ceremony’s Steering Committee, also praised the First Lady’s numerous initiatives promoting women’s empowerment.
Ms. Sonian Louise, Vice President of the South-Comoe Regional Council, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significant impact of the FAFCI on the lives of its beneficiaries. “Thanks to this initiative, thousands of women have stepped out of the shadows and into the light,” she stated.
As for the mayor of the town of Aboisso, Mr. Jérémie Alfred N’Gouan, he welcomed the guests and praised the social commitment of the First Lady, which he described as “exemplary” and universally recognized.
The ceremony concluded in a festive and warm atmosphere, featuring artistic performances, moving testimonials from FAFCI beneficiaries, and numerous expressions of gratitude from the women of South Comoe toward the First Lady.
