Cote d’Ivoire is a small west African country located on the south coast. Although it’s been a decade+ since the country’s civil war, the country is still in turmoil. That is due to the president getting elected for a third term in 2020. The county has a population of just over 27 million, which means it is growing. However, it has several issues. While it is not a tourist destination, some of the conditions are improving. Those traveling to the country or are already there need to connect to a VPN while using the internet. We’ll be glad to tell you the reasons behind that once you look at our list of the best VPNs for Cote d’Ivoire.
| Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 95 | |
| 3 |  | 9.0 | 68 | |
Why Does Using a VPN in Cote d’Ivoire Matter?
The short answer to this is question is because of the continued conflict. Factors that make it an issue include ethnic and regional tensions, land disputes, impunity, corruption, and more. Those kinds of actions tend to make rulers a bit nervous. In 2020, the government took advantage of the medical state of emergency to change the electoral code. That is how president Ouattara got his third term in office despite massive protests. As with many political controversies, violence marred the elections. Since those clashes have caused more than 80 deaths, it shouldn’t surprise you that the government monitors its citizens or anyone there.
Although the Ivorian constitution talks about free speech and fair elections, you can’t tell it at times. Due to the turmoil, the government blocked several websites. Depending on which one you are trying to go to, you’ll get the message quickly. That message is either “This site has been blocked by the network administrator” or “server not found”. Suppose you do find the site you want? The Ivorian government may be throttling the website. That is a more subtle way of discouraging website usage. When the ISPs do that, users don’t know whether it is poor infrastructure or throttling issues.
Neither one of these situations is a good scenario. Eventually, the people may rise so they can return to the term limits system. Until that point, though, your privacy is in danger every time you use the web while there. Using a VPN matters because without it, you’re taking a risk with your privacy and possibly your freedom.
Can I Use a Free VPN in Cote d’Ivoire?
Even though not all VPNs that offer a version are bad, an overwhelming majority are. Of course, there are tons of different options on the internet. What they won’t tell you is that many of them contain malware. As soon as you download them, you may find that many have self-signing certificates. That means the app can gather information and sell that information to 3rd parties. If that includes the government or the VPN gives the government your information, you’ll wish you hadn’t used it. Additionally, you’ll have to deal with data caps, slow speeds, and a lack of encryption. So yes, you can, but it would be a poor decision to make.
What is the Best VPN for Cote d’Ivoire?
Though the answer to this may be obvious, we’ll look at what you need to see from the providers. These include:
- Strong encryption to help you avoid a “raid” if you say something the government does not like
- The ability to get around the government censorship and ISP throttling
- Providers that won’t keep information on you
- Stable networks to offer you the best speeds in case the government creates an internet slowdown across the entire network
- A long trustworthy track record for providers to help ease your mind.
Although a VPN can’t fix everything, using one is a good way to help keep you safe. Let’s take a more in-depth look at some of the best VPN services for Cote d’Ivoire.
1. Best VPN for Cote d’Ivoire: ExpressVPN
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If you are worried about having issues getting things set up on your favorite devices, ExpressVPN can put your mind at ease. Along with extensive video setup guides, they offer several other resources as well. Those include a troubleshooting section and a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section. You can send an email, file a support ticket, or speak with someone directly through the live chat feature available on their website as part of their 24/7 customer support. That will help ensure you get the best possible results and have a great user experience.
2. Best VPN for Cote d’Ivoire: PIA
As far as privacy goes, Private Internet Access supports five different encryption protocols. Those include OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSEC/L2TP, PPTP, and the SOCKS5 (proxy). While there are arguments to be made for using each type of encryption, the best option is to use OpenVPN. That is because it provides the best mix of privacy and speed. WireGuard is a relative newcomer, and some people are afraid to try the protocol. Of course, there are set up guides for each type of connection on their website.
3. Best VPN for Cote d’Ivoire: Surfshark
For avid gamers, big platforms like Steam and Origin house some of the best titles in the community. What you may not realize, though, is not all games cost the same in all places. In other words, you could get a better price on some games if you connect to a VPN server from Surfshark. Simply choose a country that has reasonable prices and connect to a server there. That way, you can get your games at a lower price than you would normally.
