Côte d’Ivoire, May 22, 2025— A wave of shock and uncertainty has swept across Côte d’Ivoire following the assassination of General Lassina Doumbia, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. He was fatally shot in broad daylight shortly after departing a security meeting with Defense Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara in Abidjan.
According to reports from local sources, General Doumbia’s convoy was ambushed just outside the Ministry of Defense. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as gunmen opened fire, riddling his vehicle with bullets and shattering its windows. The general was transported to a nearby military hospital but was pronounced dead before arrival.
Authorities have yet to confirm who carried out the attack or why. Security experts and analysts are now asking whether the assassination was a terrorist act, an internal power struggle, or a politically motivated killing.
In response, security forces have increased patrols and locked down key areas of the capital. The high-profile killing has not only alarmed citizens but also raised concerns about national stability and the safety of top officials.
“This is not just a blow to the military—it’s a direct strike at the heart of our nation’s security,” a senior official told local media under condition of anonymity.
Investigations are ongoing, and the government has urged the public to remain calm. However, the bold nature of the attack—occurring in the heart of the capital and in full view of the public—has left Côte d’Ivoire bracing for potential unrest.
Further updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.
