In brief
Over recent months, Ivory Coast, known for its relative acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, has experienced a wave of violence targeting gay men and transgender individuals. This has resulted from social media influencers urging people to seek out and attack members of the community, causing a climate of fear.
The landscape of safety for LGBTQ+ individuals in Ivory Coast, once considered a haven in West Africa, has deteriorated significantly. Reports indicate an unsettling rise in violence against this community following a series of provocative calls to action by popular social media figures urging their followers to “hunt” gay men. The recent spike in assaults and intimidation campaigns has left many feeling vulnerable and unsafe.Eyewitness accounts and statements from human rights organizations reveal a distressing trend of physical attacks, harassment, and public shaming faced by gay men and transgender individuals, particularly in Abidjan, the country's largest city. The targeted individuals describe terrifying encounters, with some suffering serious physical injuries during street assaults.Additionally, the situation escalated when sports fans displayed banners with derogatory messages at soccer matches, further normalizing the hostility towards LGBTQ+ people. The political arena has not been immune to this surge in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. A prominent young lawmaker aligned with President Alassane Ouattara’s party has publicly pledged to introduce legislation aimed at curbing what he describes as the "expansion" of homosexuality in the nation.Carlos Idibouo, a noted LGBTQ+ activist in Ivory Coast, expressed deep concern over this trend, stating, “Ivory Coast was an oasis of peace for the community. Now we wonder, are people safe?” This shift in public tolerance and increasing violence has alarmed rights groups, who fear this could signal the onset of widespread discrimination similar to that seen in neighboring West and Central African nations.
