In the English-speaking world, the nation of Côte d'Ivoire is commonly known as the Ivory Coast. The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire is in West Africa, bounded by the Gulf of Guinea, Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
The country is home to more than sixty ethnic groups, which are usually classified into five general divisions: Akan (east and center), Krou (southwest), Southern Mande (west), Northern Mande (northwest), and Senoufo/Lobi (north center and northeast). Roughly eighty percent of the country's population is Ivorian, the rest being mostly workers from neighboring countries, with about four percent of the population of non-African ancestry.
The early history of the Ivory Coast is uncertain, but it is believed that the region was inhabited during the Upper Paleolithic or Neolithic periods. For a period of time prior to the 16th century, the region was ruled by a succession of Sudanic empires, which introduced Islamic teachings. In the 18th century, the region came under attack by a couple of Akan groups from Ghana - the Agni, who settled in the southeast, and the Baoule, who took over the central section.
In the 1840s, the French took control of a portion of the region, then gradually expanded the lands under French control as they moved inland. Côte d'Ivoire became a French colony in 1893, and French troops began a campaign against areas that were not yet subdued. Africans in Côte d'Ivoire became French citizens but without right of representation in Africa or France.
During World War II, Vichy France held control of Côte d'Ivoire until 1943 when General De Gaulle's provisional government took control of French West Africa. After the War, France gave its African subjects the right to organize politically, and force labor was abolished. In 1958, Côte d'Ivoire became an autonomous republic, and independence was granted in 1960.
Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the new country's first president, maintained good relations with France. His government gave farmers good prices for their products, chiefly coffee and cocoa, and it also became a significant exporter of pineapples and palm oil. Whereas in other African countries, Europeans were driven out following independence, they were welcomed in the Ivory Coast. The country's French community doubled.
Houphouët-Boigny died in 1993. His successor tightened his grip on political opponents, jailing hundreds. Under his rule, relationships between various ethnic groups were strained, as well as its relationship with its non-African population. He lost power in a military coup in 1999, and the country became embroiled in a couple of civil wars over the next two decades, in which France would become involved.
Following the country's second civil war in 2011, its government has been relatively stable. The government is a republic, and power is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The Ivory Coast has a relatively high per capita income, and its economy is the largest in the West African Economic and Monetary Union. It is the largest exporter of cocoa beans in the world, and it also exports natural rubber, coconuts, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, and petroleum. Overall, its economy has grown faster than most African economies following independence.
Côte d'Ivoire's official language is French, which is taught in schools. About sixty-five other languages are used within the country, the most common being the Dyula language. Islam is the dominant religion, followed by Christianity, and native animist religions. The north part of the country is primarily Muslim, while Christians are the most common in the south.
A large portion of the country's adult population is illiterate, particularly women, and several children between six and ten years of age are not enrolled in school. Most of the country's secondary students are male.
Telephone and telegraph services in the Ivory Coast are owned by the government. There are about fourteen mainline telephones for every thousand people, and about seventy-seven mobile phones for every thousand people. The government also controls the country's radio and television stations. Radio broadcasts are available in French, English, and indigenous languages, while television is in French alone. International broadcasts are sometimes available but subject to disruption by the government. There are about one hundred and eighty-five radios and sixty-one televisions for every thousand people, and 9.3 computers for every thousand people.
Recommended Resources
The flag carrier of the Ivory Coast is based in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Partially owned by Air France, the airline is majority owned by the government of Ivory Coast. A profile of the company and its network is set forth, along with its products, and schedules are posted to the site, along with information about baggage transportation, immigration and customs, family or group flights, and ticket offices.
https://www.aircotedivoire.com/en/
Headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, CBM Voyages is a subsidiary of Groupelda/CBM Voyages and an agency of the African Development Bank. The certified travel and tourism agency specializes in travel packages to and from the Ivory Coast, as well as several other destinations, which are highlighted here. Flight and car accommodations, hotels, and tour packages may be booked through the site.
http://cbmvoyages-ci.com/en/
With offices in Iceland and the Ivory Coast of Africa, ICSL is a fresh and frozen seafood trading company with partners in Iceland, Mauritania, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, and sales representatives in Iceland, Poland, France, and Denmark. Its operations are outlined, and its products are described in detail, along with its terms, its partners, team, and contacts. The process, from local harvesting to processing and freezing, and shipping is defined.
http://ivorycoastseafood.com/
Headquartered in Willingboro, New Jersey, United States, Ivory Coast Trading Company is the exclusive agent for a large cooperative grower in the western mountain region of the Ivory Coast, which offers cocoa and coffee to processors and manufacturers. Its products are described in detail, including the treatment of cocoa beans, the production of chocolate and cocoa powder, and an overview of the company.
http://ivorycoasttrading.com/
Headquartered in New York and Toronto, the company is a direct agent for cooperative growers in Cote d’Ivoire, also known as the Ivory Coast, offering cocoa, coffee, coconuts, and pineapple. Its products are described in detail, along with its organic certifications, marketing approach, policy shipping information, and contacts. Industry news reports are published to the site, along with other announcements.
http://www.ivoryccc.com/
US Department of State Fact Sheet: Cote d’Ivoire
Issued by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, the fact sheet discusses US relations with the country of Cote d’Ivoire, its international relations, economic representation and economic relations, as well as travel warnings, visas, passports, career opportunities, and per diem rates. General information about the Dept. of State, its services, and policy issues are included.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2846.htm
Headquartered in Abidjan, the embassy represents the United States to the government and people of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, also known as the Ivory Coast. The services that the embassy might provide to United States citizens in Cote d’Ivoire are defined, along with its governmental relationships, and information about doing business in Cote d’Ivoire or the United States, as well as opportunities to study in the US.
https://ci.usembassy.gov/
The US Central Intelligence Agency offers a map showing the location of the country, also known as the Ivory Coast, as well as an introduction and history, an overview of its governmental structure and legal system, geographical features, and its people, culture, and languages. Its economy, energy, communications, and transportation infrastructures, military, and transnational issues are discussed.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/iv.html
