About 300 Ivorians living in the United States gathered on August 9, 2025, at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington D.C. to fervently celebrate the 65th anniversary of Côte d’Ivoire’s independence during a gala evening co-organized by the three Ivorian diplomatic entities in the U.S.: the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Washington D.C., the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and the Consulate General of Côte d’Ivoire in New York.

In a magical and festive setting, the Ambassadors, Heads of Mission, and Consular Post Chiefs leading these representations delivered messages of peace, fraternity, and national cohesion to their compatriots.

Opening the speeches, His Excellency Ibrahima Touré, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to the United States, highlighted the continuous progress and development trajectory Côte d’Ivoire has followed since August 7, 1960, despite the painful periods of turmoil it has experienced.

He took this opportunity to review the social and economic life of Côte d’Ivoire under the leadership of His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic, presenting some major projects completed in recent years, including roads built or rehabilitated, new educational, university, and hospital infrastructures, as well as the national electrification rate, which rose from 33% to over 90%, and the doubling of the minimum wage for private sector workers.

He also urged the diaspora to embody the values of peace, unity, and progress, and to play an active role in national development, while calling for civic responsibility ahead of the 2025 elections.

Continuing the series of speeches in the same spirit, His Excellency Moriko Tiemoko, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations, paid a moving tribute to President Alassane Ouattara, whose enlightened leadership has strengthened Côte d’Ivoire’s presence and influence on the international stage. This repositioning has enabled the country to regain its place within regional and global international organizations, where it is continuously elected and/or re-elected.

For his part, His Excellency Inza Camara, Ambassador and Consul General of Côte d’Ivoire in New York, expressed, like his predecessors, his joy in celebrating this national holiday with compatriots and friends of Côte d’Ivoire.

Relying on the triptych of the country’s motto, "Union, Discipline, Work," he urged his brothers and sisters to adopt exemplary behavior in their host country and to keep alive the spirit of fraternity and solidarity. He also took this opportunity to invite Ivorians to get closer to the services of the Embassy and the Consulate General to register and benefit from consular assistance and protection.

Alongside these diplomats and personalities, Mr. Stéphane Gogbé, President of the Fraternal Union of Ivorians (UFI) in Washington D.C., thanked the Heads of Mission and Consular Post for organizing this gala in honor of the Ivorian diaspora. Furthermore, he pledged to work to maintain and preserve cohesion within the Ivorian community, guided by the national motto as their compass.

Moreover, it is worth noting that the evening featured two other highlights: a colorful fashion show presented by the brand “Lily Création,” showcasing Ivorian artistic know-how, and a performance by the famous Ivorian diva and undisputed queen of Afro-zouk music, Monique Séka, whose melodies of her most well-known songs were joyfully sung along by the audience.