As part of global efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage in line with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property, Côte d’Ivoire and the Swiss Federal Council signed a cooperation agreement on June 30, 2025, in Abidjan. The agreement focuses on the import, export, and restitution of cultural property.

The decree ratifying this agreement was adopted during the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan-Plateau, according to government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly.

“The agreement defines the categories of cultural property concerned, as well as the rules governing their import and return to their country of origin. Its ratification strengthens the legal framework for the protection and promotion of national cultural heritage,” said Amadou Coulibaly, who also serves as Minister of Communication.