CÔTE D’IVOIRE. Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
A country in West Africa on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It borders Liberia and Guinea to the west, Mali and Burkina Faso to the north, and Ghana to the east. Area - 322,463 sq. km. Capital - Yamoussoukro (since 1983).
The former capital, Abidjan, remains the political and economic center of the country, where the legislative and executive authorities are located. Administratively, it is divided into 19 regions, 58 departments, and 230 prefectures. Population - 17 million, 26% of whom are immigrants from neighboring countries, mainly from Burkina Faso. There are numerous non-African diasporas - French (10 to 15 thousand) and Lebanese (up to 30 thousand). Main ethnic groups: Baoule (23%), Bete (18%), Senoufo (15%), Malinke (11%).
The official language is French. Religion - Islam (40% of the population), Christianity (30%), traditional cults (30%). Currency - CFA franc (656 CFA francs = 1 euro).
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in January 1967, severed in May 1969 by the Ivorian government, restored in February 1986).
National holiday - August 7 - Independence Day (1960).
Côte d'Ivoire is a republic with a presidential form of government. The head of state is elected by universal direct suffrage for a term of 5 years. The president is Laurent Gbagbo (elected in October 2000). The Prime Minister is Charles Konan Banny (since December 2005). The highest legislative body is the National Assembly (unicameral parliament).
Its current composition (225 deputies) was elected in December 2000 for a 5-year term. The most seats were won by the Ivorian Popular Front (96 deputies) and the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (94 deputies).
Since 1990, a multiparty system has been in place in the country. A total of 102 parties are officially registered. Among them, the most representative are: the Ivorian Popular Front (IPF), the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (DPCI), the Rally of Republicans (RR), and the Ivorian Workers' Party (IWP). In the northern part of the country, the Patriotic Movement of Côte d'Ivoire has significant influence (it does not have party status).
Côte d'Ivoire has been a member of the UN since 1960.
The first Europeans appeared in the territory of present-day Côte d'Ivoire in the second half of the 15th century. By this time, early state formations existed in the eastern and coastal areas of the country, while the northern part was under the influence of large feudal states - Ghana, Mali, Songhai. In the 17th century, the first French missionaries landed on the coast of Côte d'Ivoire. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, France gradually took control of the territory of Côte d'Ivoire. At the end of the 19th century, the country became a colony within French West Africa. In 1946, it received the status of an "overseas territory" within the French Union, and in 1958 it became a republic within the French Community. Côte d'Ivoire gained independence on August 7, 1960.
Currently, the socio-political situation in Côte d'Ivoire remains unstable. The country is experiencing a deep crisis, a consequence of an anti-government uprising in September 2002 by part of the national army, which escalated into a powerful rebel movement that engulfed its northern and western regions. Thanks to France's intervention (Operation "Unicorn"), it was possible to prevent the escalation into a large-scale civil war and bring the opposing sides to the negotiating table. In January 2003, the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement was signed, under which a national reconciliation government was formed, headed by a prime minister not affiliated with either side of the conflict. In May 2003, the opposing sides signed a ceasefire agreement, and in July of the same year - a joint declaration to end the war. At France's initiative, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1479 on May 13, 2003, establishing the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), tasked with assisting in the implementation of the commitments of the conflicting parties arising from the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.
On November 27, 2004, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1528, authorizing a comprehensive UN peacekeeping operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) starting in April 2004, consisting of civilian, police, and military components (maximum strength - 6,240 personnel). They are deployed throughout the country. UNOCI, in cooperation with the French peacekeeping contingent "Unicorn," assists the Ivorian parties in implementing the full range of tasks for peaceful settlement, primarily in areas such as ensuring ceasefire, implementing disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex-combatants (DDR), and restoring state authority throughout the country.
On June 29-30, 2004, a meeting was held in Accra (Ghana) under the chairmanship of UN Secretary-General K. Annan and the chairman of ECOWAS, with the participation of leaders from several African countries and a broad representation of Ivorian political movements. As a result of the meeting, the conflict parties signed the Accra-3 Agreement, detailing the provisions of the Linas-Marcoussis agreements and establishing a timeline for measures to unblock the internal political standoff in Côte d'Ivoire. To facilitate its practical implementation, a mixed multilateral commission of representatives from the UN, AU, and ECOWAS was created. However, the schedule developed in Accra was not adhered to. Legislative acts guaranteeing the conduct of democratic presidential elections in 2005 were not adopted by December 30, 2004. The stalled reforms provoked a negative reaction among supporters of the "new forces" and their refusal to begin disarming their formations from October 15, 2005.
In April 2005, a meeting took place in Pretoria, mediated by South African President T. Mbeki, attended by President L. Gbagbo, Prime Minister S. Diarra, leaders of major opposition parties, and the "new forces." A communiqué was signed declaring the intention to seek peaceful ways to unblock the situation, stating the "immediate and definitive cessation of hostilities in Côte d'Ivoire." It also provided for the reconsideration by the National Assembly of several laws previously adopted in accordance with the Marcoussis agreements that did not satisfy the opposition.
The Ivorian government scheduled presidential elections for October 30, 2005. In an address to the nation on April 26, 2005, President L. Gbagbo stated that representatives of all parties that signed the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement would be able to participate.
UN Security Council Resolution of June 24, 2005, extended the mandate of UNOCI and its supporting French forces until January 24, 2006.
It imposes additional tasks on peacekeepers in Côte d'Ivoire aimed at assisting in the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement. The UN Security Council increased the peacekeeping mission by 850 military personnel and 375 civilian police. At the end of June 2005, a new meeting took place in Pretoria with the participation of President L. Gbagbo and leading opposition leaders of Côte d'Ivoire, resulting in the adoption of the "Declaration on the Implementation of the Pretoria Agreement." It provides, in particular, for the beginning of disarmament of rebel forces and pro-government armed formations, the establishment of an Independent Electoral Commission, and the provision of necessary conditions for the safe return to the capital of Côte d'Ivoire of opposition leaders and ministers from the "new forces."
The economy of Côte d'Ivoire is currently experiencing a crisis. Due to the ongoing conflict, significant losses have been incurred by the main sectors directly related to cocoa bean exports, which provide the main revenue to the treasury. Compared to the pre-crisis period, industrial indicators fell by 16%. Côte d'Ivoire's external debt stands at $12 billion. In 2004, the World Bank ceased lending to Côte d'Ivoire. In 2004, the country's GDP decreased by 3% compared to the previous year. The inflation rate in 2004 was 3.3%. The income per capita does not exceed $600 per year.
The leading sector of the economy is agriculture (about 28% of GDP and 40% of export revenues), in which 60% of the working-age population is employed. The most important source of income is the export of cocoa beans, which amounted to over 1.45 million tons in 2004.
Côte d'Ivoire ranks first in the world in cocoa bean exports and third in coffee exports. The country is the main exporter of palm oil and natural rubber in Africa. Other export crops include bananas, cotton, sugarcane, and tobacco.
Among the most promising sectors of industry are oil and gas extraction (two new oil fields have been discovered on the continental shelf, which Americans intend to develop). There are deposits of nickel, manganese, and iron ores, as well as bauxite, diamonds, and gold. The processing industry includes enterprises for the processing of coffee, cocoa, cotton, palm oil, textile, sewing, chemical, and metalworking industries.
The socio-economic situation of the population is deteriorating, with the number of people living below the poverty line reaching 44%. According to UNDP data (2004), Côte d'Ivoire ranks 163rd out of 177.
Main trading partners - EU countries (primarily France).
ECOWAS countries, as well as South Africa, Morocco, and Tunisia, occupy second place after the EU in Côte d'Ivoire's foreign economic relations. The USA, China, Canada, and Japan are active in trade and economic relations with Côte d'Ivoire.
In Abidjan, about 170 printed publications are issued, including 10 daily newspapers with a circulation of 5,000 to 30,000 copies. There is an Ivorian news agency with representations in 14 regions and about 50 special correspondents.
Foreign periodicals are widely circulated. Television is represented by 2 local channels.
The main channel RTI broadcasts over 85% of the country's territory. Radio broadcasting covers all areas.
