Ivorian-Italian Cooperation: First Lady Dominique Ouattara Receives the Italian Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire

First Lady Dominique Ouattara received Her Excellency Roberta Di Lecce, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Côte d’Ivoire, in audience on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at her offices in Cocody.

This meeting was part of efforts to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and Italy. Discussions focused on partnership prospects between the two countries, particularly in areas of common interest.

Following the audience, the Italian Ambassador indicated that it was first of all a courtesy visit. “We discussed the Italian presence in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as projects and our shared perspectives,” stated Roberta Di Lecce.

She also emphasized that the discussions focused primarily on strengthening the partnership between Italy and Côte d’Ivoire. “We mainly addressed issues related to the partnership between both countries. I also briefly mentioned the Mattei Plan, which constitutes Italy’s new strategy for Africa, specifying that Côte d’Ivoire is among the priority countries,” she added.

The First Lady, for her part, expressed her satisfaction with the quality of the discussions and thanked her host for this cordial visit. She also wished him every success in carrying out his diplomatic mission in Côte d’Ivoire.

This meeting thus reinforces the ties of cooperation between Abidjan and Rome, in a context marked by a shared desire to revitalize strategic partnerships for development.