|
. .  
Flags . Feedback |
 
Cote d'Ivoire Introduction - 2003 https://theodora.com/wfb2003/cote_divoire/cote_divoire_introduction.html SOURCE: 2003 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK Background: Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power. GBAGBO spent his first two years in office trying to consolidate power to strengthen his weak mandate, but he was unable to appease his opponents, who launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and help implement the peace accords. NOTE: The information regarding Cote d'Ivoire on this page is re-published from the 2003 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Guinea Geography 2003 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Cote d'Ivoire Introduction 2003 should be addressed to the CIA. |
|