Ivory Coast: recovering from years of conflict
By Afp

Published: 18:40 GMT, 20 October 2015 | Updated: 18:41 GMT, 20 October 2015









e-mail



The west African state of Ivory Coast, which holds a presidential election Sunday, is recovering from years of political and military strife.

Here are some key facts:

- From independence to 'father of the nation' -




A man gestures near the ruins of the former subprefecture of the Ivorian town of Grand Lahou, situated where the Bandama River meets the Gulf of Guinea, on October 15, 2015 ©Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)

Ivory Coast gained independence from France in 1960 and Felix Houphouet-Boigny became president.

Multi-party politics were introduced in 1990 after 30 years of rule by his PDCI party and a wave of protests.

When Houphouet-Boigny, known as 'the father of the nation', died in December 1993, he was succeeded by Henri Konan Bedie who won election in 1995 amid the worst violence since independence.

- Crises -

In December, 1999 an army mutiny was followed by a coup, the first in the country's history. A junta led by General Robert Guei overthrew Bedie.

A disputed presidential poll in October 2000 was won by Laurent Gbagbo. September 2002 saw a military uprising which effectively cut the country in two with rebels holding the north and the army retaining control of the south.

A presidential election was put off six times until a first round was finally held on October 31, 2010. After the second round on November 28, Gbagbo refused to recognise the victory of rival Alassane Ouattara.

On April 11, 2011, Gbagbo was arrested by Ouattara's forces, following a 10-day conflict and several days of shelling by French and UN troops.

Ivory Coast's new rulers say 3,000 people died during the post-electoral crisis.

Gbagbo is now incarcerated in The Hague where he awaits trial on charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court in connection with the crisis.

- Biggest cocoa producer -

Ivory Coast is the world's leading cocoa producer, daniel machine with more than 35 percent of the world's harvest. It also exports cashew nuts and coffee.

The agricultural sector accounts for 22 percent of gross domestic product, more than 50 percent of export income and two thirds of employment and personal income, according to the World Bank.

The economy has expanded by an average of nine percent over the past three years and per capita income reached $1,460 in 2014, World Bank data shows.

- 23 million people -

Ivory Coast lies on the Atlantic Ocean and has a population of 23 million, of whom 5.4 million are foreigners, according to a census published in late 2014.

The capital Yamoussoukro has a population of 200,000 but most government offices remain in the economic capital Abidjan, which has a population of around five million.




Then Ivorian President Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan in July 1992 ©Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)





Ivory Coast President and candidate Alassane Ouattara delivers a speech during a campaign rally in the Attecoube district of Abidjan on October 11, 2015 ©Sia Kambou (AFP/File)





Ivory Coast is the world's leading cocoa producer, with more than 35 percent of the world's harvest ©Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)