Côte d'Ivoire

revised August 2, 2006

Côte d'Ivoire Information

Map of Côte d'Ivoire with the peoples discussed in "Art and Life in Africa" CD-ROM

General Information for Côte d'Ivoire

Country:

Côte d'Ivoire

Location:

West Africa

Independence:

August 7, 1960

Nationality:

Ivoirian

Capital City:

Yamoussoukro

Population:

15,980,950

Important Cities:

Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, Gagnoa

Head of State:

Laurent Gbagbo (at least in the south)

Area:

322,460 sq.km.

Type of Government:

Republic

Currency:

500 CFAF=1 USD

Major peoples:

Baule,Bete,Senufo,Malinke,Agni

Religion:

Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, African 18%

Climate:

Tropical

Literacy:

48.5%

Official Language:

French

Principal Languages:

Dioula, Agni, Baule, Kru, Senufo, Mandinka

Major Exports:

Coffee, Cocoa, Banana, Palm Oil, Cotton, Fish, Tropical Wood

Pre-Colonial History

Very little is known about the early history of Côte d'Ivoire. France made its initial contact with Côte d'Ivoire in 1637, when missionaries landed at Assinie near the Gold Coast (now Ghana) border. In the 18th century, the country was invaded by two related peoples-the Anyi, who occupied the southeast, and the Baule, who settled in the central section. In 1843 to 1844, Admiral Bouet-Williaumez signed treaties with the Kings of Grand Bassam and Assinie regions, placing their territories under a French protectorate. French explorers, missionaries, trading companies, and soldiers gradually extended the area under French control inland from the lagoon region. However, conquest was not completed until 1915. From 1904 to 1958, Côte d'Ivoire was a constituent unit of the Federation of French West Africa. It was a colony and an overseas territory under French rule. Until the period following World War II, governmental affairs in French West Africa were administered from Paris.

Post-Colonial History

In December 1958, Côte d'Ivoire became an autonomous republic within the French community as a result of a referendum that brought community status to all members of the old Federation of French West Africa, except Guinea, which had voted against association. Côte d'Ivoire became independent on August 7, 1960, and permitted its community membership to lapse. Côte d'Ivoire's contemporary political history is closely associated with the career of Felix Houphouet-Boigny, President of the Republic and leader of the Parti Democratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI), until his recent death. He was one of the founders of the Rassemblement Democratique Africain (RDA), the leading preindependence interterritorial political party in French West African territories (except Mauritania). Houphouet-Boigny first came to political prominence in 1944 as founder of the Syndicat Agricole Africain, an organization that won improved conditions for African farmers and formed a nucleus for the PDCI. In 1959, Houphouet-Boigny reinforced his position as a dominant figure in West Africa by leading Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), and Dahomey (now Bénin) into the Council of the Entente, a regional organization promoting economic development. In the years since Houphet-Boigny's death there has been considerable political instability in great part due to the refusal of Christians from the south to recognize the lawful election of Alisane Ouattara, a Muslim candidate from the north. This has resulted in a de-fact partition of the country and the violent expulsion of northern guestworkers from Mali and Burkina, many of whom had lived and worked in RCI for generations.

Country:	Côte d'Ivoire
Location:	West Africa
Independence:	August 7, 1960
Nationality:	Ivoirian
Capital City:	Yamoussoukro
Population:	15,980,950
Important Cities:	Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, Gagnoa
Head of State:	Laurent Gbagbo (at least in the south)
Area:	322,460 sq.km.
Type of Government:	Republic
Currency:	500 CFAF=1 USD
Major peoples:	Baule,Bete,Senufo,Malinke,Agni
Religion:	Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, African 18%
Climate:	Tropical
Literacy:	48.5%
Official Language:	French
Principal Languages:	Dioula, Agni, Baule, Kru, Senufo, Mandinka
Major Exports:	Coffee, Cocoa, Banana, Palm Oil, Cotton, Fish, Tropical Wood
Pre-Colonial History	Very little is known about the early history of Côte d'Ivoire. France made its initial contact with Côte d'Ivoire in 1637, when missionaries landed at Assinie near the Gold Coast (now Ghana) border. In the 18th century, the country was invaded by two related peoples-the Anyi, who occupied the southeast, and the Baule, who settled in the central section. In 1843 to 1844, Admiral Bouet-Williaumez signed treaties with the Kings of Grand Bassam and Assinie regions, placing their territories under a French protectorate. French explorers, missionaries, trading companies, and soldiers gradually extended the area under French control inland from the lagoon region. However, conquest was not completed until 1915. From 1904 to 1958, Côte d'Ivoire was a constituent unit of the Federation of French West Africa. It was a colony and an overseas territory under French rule. Until the period following World War II, governmental affairs in French West Africa were administered from Paris.
Post-Colonial History	In December 1958, Côte d'Ivoire became an autonomous republic within the French community as a result of a referendum that brought community status to all members of the old Federation of French West Africa, except Guinea, which had voted against association. Côte d'Ivoire became independent on August 7, 1960, and permitted its community membership to lapse. Côte d'Ivoire's contemporary political history is closely associated with the career of Felix Houphouet-Boigny, President of the Republic and leader of the Parti Democratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI), until his recent death. He was one of the founders of the Rassemblement Democratique Africain (RDA), the leading preindependence interterritorial political party in French West African territories (except Mauritania). Houphouet-Boigny first came to political prominence in 1944 as founder of the Syndicat Agricole Africain, an organization that won improved conditions for African farmers and formed a nucleus for the PDCI. In 1959, Houphouet-Boigny reinforced his position as a dominant figure in West Africa by leading Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), and Dahomey (now Bénin) into the Council of the Entente, a regional organization promoting economic development. In the years since Houphet-Boigny's death there has been considerable political instability in great part due to the refusal of Christians from the south to recognize the lawful election of Alisane Ouattara, a Muslim candidate from the north. This has resulted in a de-fact partition of the country and the violent expulsion of northern guestworkers from Mali and Burkina, many of whom had lived and worked in RCI for generations.