The entrance exams for the civil service competitions kicked off this Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Lycée Classique d'Abidjan. While this first day saw a surge of 27,000 candidates, it was also marred by several incidents that proved costly for some applicants, who were turned away before even reaching the exam rooms.

The ordeal of "Charles": a simple oversight shatters a dream

Among those disappointed by this first session, the case of Charles (pseudonym) perfectly illustrates the strict application of the regulations.

Arriving at the examination center around 8 a.m. in a light rain, the young man successfully passed through the first security checkpoint manned by law enforcement officers equipped with metal detectors. Things took a turn for the worse during the document check: while he presented his summons without issue, his National Identity Card (CNI) was nowhere to be found.

Panic sets in. Charles frantically searches his pockets, in vain.

"Without this, you cannot enter. Move aside," the security guard firmly ordered him.

Blocked at the entrance, the candidate explains his predicament: “I must have dropped my ID card in the ride-hailing vehicle that dropped me off. Since phones are prohibited in the center, I left mine at home after ordering the ride. It's impossible to contact the driver again. Furthermore, I live far away, in Abobo (on the road to Alépé), and my sister, with whom I live, is already at work. No one can check if the card is still at home.”

The verdict came down soon after, confirmed by a supervisor at the center: no national identity card, no exam . Charles was forced to leave, his hopes of joining the civil service for this year dashed. Like him, several other candidates were turned away for lateness or incomplete applications.

Minister Anne Désirée Ouloto is inflexible on discipline

During a supervisory visit to the Lycée classique d'Abidjan, the Minister of State, Minister of Public Service and Modernisation of Administration, was uncompromising in the face of these shortcomings.

For Anne Désirée Ouloto, respecting the rules begins on the day of the competition:

"It's a shame. They should have been here first thing in the morning to wait for the administration. It's a way of demonstrating that they are ready to join an administration based on rules and principles such as discipline, responsibility, loyalty, and honesty. But if they arrive late for a competition, it means they're not ready."

Key figures for the 2026 session

1. A total of 168,000 candidates are registered this year.
2. 459 recruitment and promotion competitions open.
3. 82 competitions are affected by this first wave.
4. 4 composition sessions planned (at a rate of one every two weeks).