Portugal to reopen embassy in Ivory Coast in 2020

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, has confirmed yesterday that Portugal will reopen its embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in 2020. Santos Silva added that the opening will be officially announced by President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during his state visit to that country.

Although the minister admitted having “mentioned it last month while in the Ivory Coast”, he added that it is the “President [who] will, tomorrow (June 13), in a state visit to that country, solemnly confirm that Portugal will reopen a permanent diplomatic mission in Abidjan over the course of next year”, the minister told MPs in a Foreign Affairs’ committee hearing.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa arrived last night to the Ivory Coast for a two-day state visit, aiming at strengthening bilateral relations between Portugal and that African country. For Portugal, this reopening could not be more symbolic as the country prepares to assume the Presidency of the European Union in 2021, bringing the state of relations with Africa to the list of top priorities.

This also comes in line with the agreement signed between Portugal and Ivory Coast where both countries agreed to open embassies in each other’s capital. Ivory Coast has upheld its part of the deal by opening its Lisbon embassy in 2016.

Trade relations between the two countries have been intensifying since 2010, observing a gradual increase in both exports and imports. Portugal is the 35th most important client and the 31st most prominent supplier of that African country, according to AICEP.