Ivorian entrepreneur David Fofana has acquired the Cosmos Yopougon shopping centre in Abidjan for around 10.5 billion CFA francs ($18 million), according to several local media reports.

The acquisition was made through Mayelia Participations, the group founded and led by Fofana, and marks a further expansion of the entrepreneur's business interests into commercial real estate.

Located in Yopougon, one of Abidjan's most populous municipalities, Cosmos is one of the city's major shopping centres. The complex was developed by HC Capital Properties and opened in 2018.

The transaction gives Fofana control of a major commercial property in a densely populated part of Abidjan, strengthening the presence of locally owned capital in Côte d’Ivoire's retail and property sectors.

Fofana is best known as the founder of Mayelia Participations, a group active in transport-related services and road safety. In 2025, Mayelia acquired the Société Ivoirienne de Contrôle Technique Automobile (SICTA), previously controlled by Swiss inspection group SGS.

The purchase of Cosmos represents another step in Mayelia's diversification beyond its traditional activities. The group is now expanding its portfolio into commercial property and retail assets.

The transaction also comes as Côte d’Ivoire's retail sector continues to attract major domestic and international operators, with shopping centres and modern retail formats expanding alongside the country's growing urban population.

The reported purchase price of 10.5 billion CFA francs has been cited by several Ivorian media outlets. Further details on the structure of the transaction and the future management of the shopping centre have not been publicly disclosed in an official statement accessible at the time of publication.