Côte d’Ivoire’s national lottery operator, LONACI, has opened a five-day review of its quality management system, with auditors examining its headquarters and four agency locations.
The audit began on 12 October 2026 at the operator’s Marcory headquarters and is scheduled to conclude on 16 October. Deputy general director Abdoulkarim Ouattara opened the exercise, which forms part of preparations to maintain ISO 9001:2015 certification.
The assessment will evaluate internal processes, check compliance with applicable requirements and identify improvements. Its extension to Plateau, Aboisso, Yamoussoukro and Bouaké brings agency operations into the review alongside head-office procedures.
Outside Support Supplements LONACI’s Internal Audits
Ouattara said LONACI had conducted internal audits using its own resources since 2024, following a directive from director general Dramane Coulibaly.
For the current exercise, Ouattara said, “we have sought the support of an external firm”, according to SiGMA’s reporting of the operator’s statement.
The consultancy will help assess the rigour of controls and guard against weaknesses in the application of procedures. Ouattara emphasised that the objective was to make quality part of daily work and preserve the effectiveness of the management system.
Auditors Describe an Improvement Exercise
Auditor Vamara Koné, accompanied by Yaya Touré, said the review was intended to support organisational improvement.
“This is not an inspection, but a management tool to improve performance,” Koné said.
Following the headquarters assessment, the team is scheduled to review the four agencies. The published accounts do not identify the procedures selected at each location or provide preliminary findings.
The distinction matters when assessing the announcement.
Quality Certification Builds on Earlier Process Changes
Local reporting by Yeclo places LONACI’s initial ISO 9001:2015 certification in December 2022. It also reports that the operator retained the certificate after its first surveillance audit, announced in February 2024.
According to this account, the original quality-management work included reorganising internal procedures, formalising processes, conducting regular audits and training staff. Implementation was undertaken internally.
Therefore, the October review follows an existing programme of process documentation and assessment. It should not be confused with the separate information-security audit LONACI announced in April 2026 as part of its ISO 27001 preparations.
iGW Market Relevance: Look for Changes After the Review
Our AMR Platforms and Partnerships question is whether findings from headquarters and agency visits lead to consistent operating practices across the network.
You should look out for which improvements LONACI adopts, who implements them and how their effect is assessed. This audit announcement establishes the review’s scope and purpose.
