Report and photos by Florian Guillemin

The people of Abidjan have long been proud of the Traythe image of "little Manhattan which is often associated with business and institutional district of their city. But the modernity that radiated from these towers, symbols of the "Ivorian miracle initiated by President Houphouët-Boigny in the 1960s, has had its day. Today, the Plateau is deliberately looking to the future and generating new projects, at the same time upsetting the most nostalgic of those attached to the image behind which the Ivorian capital was somewhat frozen.

It has to be said that the various projects undertaken are not helping - at least not yet - to ease the traffic congestion. For all that, the new hotels that are blossoming on the Plateau, driven by both international players and local brands, are providing a much-needed boost to the old business district.

In the long term, the aim is to retain the businessmen and civil servants who, like the thousands of bats hanging in the neighbourhood's trees, fly off to other horizons when the evening comes. And, while we're at it, why not take advantage of the opportunity to breathe new life into the nightlife - and life itself - to attract the people of Abidjan? After all, the young, trendy population The vitality of the local creative scene and the emergence of new concepts in the arts, fashion and entrepreneurship are testament to this.

Today, everything seems possible in this city undergoing a complete metamorphosis, which dreams of being the capital of West Africa. Tomorrow, once the town planning projects have been completed, starting with the metro and the new Cocody BayOnce the 2020 presidential electionsIt will be time to see whether the promises of a new Ivorian miracle have been kept.

GETTING THERE

Like a symbol of the current dynamic, Abidjan has become the 7 October the first destination linked by the Air France's new A350-900 from Paris CDG. This flight, which has a stopover in Bamako on both the outward and return legs, is operated every day of the week except Thursday. In addition, there is a direct daily service lasting 6 hours 20 minutes, or two on Mondays and Saturdays, operated by Boeing B777. For its part, Corsair flies to Abidjan from Orly up to seven times a week using an Airbus A330-200.

As far as formalities are concerned, only business travellers with a visa and, above all, proof of yellow fever vaccination will be able to enter Côte d'Ivoire.

Air France >  Tel: 3654 - Internet: www.airfrance.fr
Corsair >  Tel: 3917 - Internet: www.corsair.fr