Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy is the retinal location of diabetic microangiopathy. It is a public health problem and one of the target diseases of the global Vision 2020 initiative. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiological features and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in the melanoderma African in Abidjan. Materials and Methods: We carried out a prospective observational study which took place from April to September 2016 and which focused on the diabetic subjects received in consultation in the Ophthalmology Department of Cocody University Hospital. All Patients had had bio-microscopic examination of the fundus with Goldman three-mirror contact lens and optic coherence tomography of the macula and, in some cases, retinal fluorescein angiography. Results: Out of a population of 448 patients, 200 had diabetic retinopathy. That is a prevalence of 45%. The prevalence of macular edema was 6%. The subpopulation of subjects with retinopathy consisted of 61.5% (123) of male patients versus 38.5% (77) of female patients. The mean age of female patients with retinopathy was 42 ± 14.08 years and that of male patients 58 ± 15.07 years. The majority of patients with retinopathy lived in urban areas (73%), and had type II diabetes. The duration of evolution of diabetes was 5 to 10 years in 65% of cases. Obesity, smoking, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure were the main factors of co-morbidity associated with poor glycemic control. Discussion: Diabetic retinopathy had a high prevalence and predominated in males. Maculopathy was represented by macular edema, which is the leading cause of diabetes-related blindness. Conclusion: The prevention of blindness related to diabetes requires regular multidisciplinary follow-up in order to treat retinal damage early.