The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cote d’Ivoire was announced on 11th March 2020, prompting swift action from the government. On 18th March, flights were temporarily suspended and all schools closed for an initial 30 days. As the cases of COVID-19 continued to rise, the country declared a state of emergency on 23rd March 2020, bringing with it dusk to dawn curfew, the prohibition of movement of people, vehicles and goods in and out of Abidjan, and temporary closure of public spaces. With many Ivorians already grappling with the negative effects of COVID-19 on the economy, the October 2020 elections served as another avenue for increased tension among people fearing election violence. Investors and business owners shied away from resuming their activities and injecting money into the economy.
