Côte d’Ivoire

C

Mining and Manufacturing

Offshore oil was discovered in commercial quantities in 1977, and production began in 1980. Petroleum provides a significant share of export earnings; output in 2004 was 12 million barrels a year. Côte d’Ivoire also mines significant quantities of diamonds and gold. Major industries include food-processing plants, lumber and textile mills, oil refineries, and cement, plywood, and palm oil production.

D

Currency, Banking, and Trade

Côte d’Ivoire is a member of the West African Monetary Union. The currency is the CFA franc, issued by the Central Bank for the States of West Africa (522.9 CFA francs equal U.S.$1; 2006 average).

In 2003 exports totaled $5.5 billion and imports were $3.5 billion. Principal trading partners for exports are Netherlands, France, the United States, Mali, and Ghana; chief partners for imports are France, Nigeria, the United States, Italy, and Netherlands.

E

Transportation and Communications

The port of Abidjan is one of the busiest in West Africa. A new port exists at San-Pédro, which is linked to Mali by rail. A railroad links Abidjan to Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The total length of operated railroad track in the country is 639 km (397 mi). Only about 8 percent (2004) of the estimated 80,000 km (49,710 mi) of roads are paved. The government operates several radio and television stations, and several commercial radio stations also broadcast. More Ivoirians have mobile telephones than telephone mainlines, and in 2006 about 300,000 people had access to the Internet.

---

---

V

Government

Côte d’Ivoire is governed under a constitution that was adopted by public referendum in July 2000. The head of state is an elected president and the head of government is a prime minister, who is appointed by the president. The president and prime minister are advised by a council of ministers that is selected by the prime minister. The president and the 225 members of the unicameral National Assembly are all elected for five-year terms by universal adult suffrage.

Major political parties in Côte d’Ivoire include the Parti Démocratique de la Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI; Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire), the social-democratic Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI; Ivorian Popular Front), and the centrist Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR; Rally of Republicans). The PDCI was the nation’s only legal political party from 1960 to 1990, when a multiparty system was adopted. It retained control over the country until its leader was ousted in a military coup in December 1999.

The judicial system includes a supreme court that comprises constitutional, judicial, administrative, and auditing chambers. A high court of justice is empowered to try government officials, including the president, for high crimes. Other courts include appellate, state security, and courts of first instance.

VI

History

Ancestors of most of the present population of Côte d’Ivoire seem to have moved into the area relatively late (18th to 19th century), mostly from the northeast and east. The Kru, however, came from the west across the Cavally River. Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and began trading in slaves and ivory. Strong tribal kingdoms flourished in the northeastern and eastern parts of the country. Europeans did not penetrate inland until the 1830s, when the French signed treaties with coastal rulers. As part of the French expansion in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire was made a colony in 1893. The French were bitterly resisted, however, and frequent revolts occurred. In 1904 Côte d’Ivoire became a constituent territory of the Federation of French West Africa. Faced with dissidence, the French resorted increasingly to direct rule, undermining traditional rulers.