Flag of Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire Celebrates Independence, August 7, 2024
By Joy Osiagwu
Côte d’Ivoire is a Western African country on the south coast. It has borders with Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and the Gulf of Guinea. With a population of 30 million, the French colony gained Independence from France on August 7, 1960. However, the country’s close ties to France contributed to the development of cocoa production for export and foreign investment, which ranked the nation as one of the wealthiest in the sub-region. Felix Houphouet-Boigny became the first president in November 1960.
Cote d’Ivoire experienced peace and tranquility for over three decades after independence. Political analysts described the nation as one African country that was known for its religious and ethnic tolerance and economic development in the period until an armed rebellion broke the peace. The country experienced its first major political crisis in December 1999 through a military coup that overthrew the government. Robert Guei rigged the 2000 elections and declared himself the winner. But a significant protest led to his removal and replacement with Laurent Gbagbo. However, the resumption of discussions toward implementing the peace accord in December 2003 and the subsequent stalemate led to a civil war that changed the nation’s trajectory.
The republic’s official language is French, its political capital is in Yamoussoukro, and the economic prosperity is in the port city of Abidjan.
The country is known as the world’s top Cocoa producer and famous for its beautiful beaches, which earned it a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. Some of the continent’s fantastic soccer players, such as Didier Drogba, are from Cote d’Ivoire.
Current Governance Structure
Cote d’Ivoire practices a presidential representative democratic republic. Under the Executive arm, the President is the chief of state and head of government, while the legislative section operates a unicameral National Assembly. Alassane Ouattara is the President of the county. He assumed leadership in 2010.
President Alassane Ouattara (Photo: Getty Images)
Trending News
Cote D’Ivoire has halted the sale of contracts for cocoa exports for 2023-2024. The development is coming on the heels of torrential rain that destroyed farms. As reported by Reuters, the suspension of the sale will deal a heavy blow to many of its customers, given that Côte d’Ivoire is a significant commodity supplier.
Cote d’Ivoire-Ottawa Connection
The diplomatic relations between Cote D’Ivoire and Canada date back to 1962, and the collaborations between the two countries have remained cordial. Global Affairs Canada reports that the Canadian- Francophonie Scholarship program has provided scholarships to over 155 students in the last three decades.
The Embassy of Cote D’Ivoire is at 9 Marlborough Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 8E6.
Phone: 613 236 9919