Ivory Coast nation profile

For greater than three a long time after its independence from France, Cote D’Ivoire or Ivory Coast was identified for its spiritual and ethnic concord, in addition to its well-developed economic system.

The Western African nation was hailed as a mannequin of stability. However an armed riot in 2002 cut up the nation in two. Peace offers alternated with renewed violence because the nation slowly edged its approach in direction of a political decision of the battle.

Regardless of the instability, Ivory Coast is the world’s largest exporter of cocoa beans, and its residents take pleasure in a comparatively excessive stage of earnings in comparison with different international locations within the area.

• Capital: Yamoussoukro (political) Abidjan (financial)

• Space: 322,463 sq km

• Inhabitants: 29,3 million

• Languages: French, plus Bété, Jula, Baule, Abron, Anyin, Cebaara Senufo and others

• Life expectancy: 62 years (males) 65 years (ladies)

President : Alassane Ouattara

Alassane Ouattara has been in energy since his predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, was forcibly faraway from workplace after refusing to just accept Mr Ouattara’s internationally recognised victory within the November 2010 presidential election.

In 2015, Mr Ouattara received a second five-year time period with almost 84% of the vote, in an election described as credible by US observers.

His re-election in 2020 was extra controversial, with the opposition boycotting the ballot in protest at what they known as an unconstitutional third time period.

A US-educated economist from the Muslim north, Mr Ouattara served as President Felix Houphouet-Boigny’s final prime minister after a protracted profession on the Worldwide Financial Fund.

The federal government operates the retailers with the widest attain, together with TV and radio networks and the primary day by day newspaper.

The primary privately-owned terrestrial TV stations have been licensed in 2018.

Press freedom “relies upon intently on the political context”, says Reporters With out Borders.

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Some key dates within the historical past of Ivory Coast:

1842 – France imposes protectorate over coastal zone and later colonizes Ivory Coast.

1944 – Felix Houphouet-Boigny, later to turn out to be Ivory Coast’s first president, founds a union of African farmers, which develops into the inter-territorial African Democratic Rally and its Ivorian part, the Ivory Coast Democratic Social gathering.

1958 – Ivory Coast turns into a republic throughout the French Neighborhood.

1960 – France grants independence below President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. He holds energy till he dies in 1993.

1999 – President Henri Konan Bedie, in energy since 1993, is overthrown in a navy coup.

2000 – Laurent Gbagbo turns into president after a controversial election.

2002-2007 – Civil struggle successfully splits nation into Muslim rebel-held north and government-controlled Christian south after renegade troopers attempt to oust Mr Gbagbo.

2007 – Gbagbo and insurgent chief Guillaume Soro of the New Forces signal an settlement to finish the disaster.

2010 – Lengthy-delayed presidential elections. Election fee declares Alassane Ouattara the winner of the run-off. Mr Gbagbo refuses to give up. Publish-election violence leaves 3,000 individuals useless and 500,000 displaced.

2016 – Al-Qaeda jihadists assault the seashore resort of Grand Bassam, close to Abidjan, killing 18 individuals.

2019 – The Worldwide Prison Courtroom acquits Ivory Coast ex-president Laurent Gbagbo of fees of crimes in opposition to humanity over violence following the 2010 election.