The Liaison Office of the African Union in Côte d'Ivoire became operational inMarch 2003, following the decision of December 4, 2002, by the 87th meeting of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, the management and conflict resolution. The Headquarters Agreement with the Host Country was signed July 14, 2003. 

The Office in Côte d'Ivoire focus on the following issues:

• Represent the AU with the Government of Côte d'Ivoire and inform the President of the AU Commission and the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on the political, economic and social events of the Côte d'Ivoire  and possibly in neighboring countries.
• Support in coordination with other representatives of the international community, especially the UN and ECOWAS the efforts of Ivorian parties to manage the after crisis process and national reconciliation ;
• Establish regularly for the AU Commission President and the PSC, reports on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire in political, security, economic and humanitarian domains;
• In conjunction with the authorities and the Ivorian parties to take initiatives to implement the decisions concerning Côte d'Ivoire, made ??by the authorized bodies of the AU, in particular the PSC;
• Contribute to:
  -  reform of the security services in Côte d'Ivoire;
  -  reconciliation;
  -  rebuilding the country, for the implementation of quick impact projects;
• Implement initiatives to assist the Ivorian authorities and those of other states in the region to maintain good neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President of the Commission, notably representing the AU in Côte d'Ivoire and the West African sub-region in the various fields of activities of the Union.