The state of Cote d'Ivoire was previously called Ivory Coast. It was a French colony and only gained independence in 1960. Today it is a presidential republic, which is known for its well-developed agriculture. And thanks to the tropical climate and many beautiful places, it attracts an increasing number of tourists every year.

Pre-colonial Côte d'Ivoire

First, it’s worth telling where the Ivory Coast is. This country is located in West Africa on the Guinea coast. Its history dates back to the distant 1st millennium BC. At this time, its territory was inhabited by pygmies, who were engaged in such primitive crafts as gathering and hunting.

Later, around the 11th century, other peoples came here from the north-west - the Senufo, who were displaced by the Mande tribes in the 15th-16th centuries. After 2-3 hundred years, they became the creators of a powerful trading state, which they called Kong.

Colonial period

From the beginning of the 15th century, Europeans began to arrive in the territory of Kong. These were immigrants from Denmark, Portugal and Holland. They bought gold and ivory from the local population and acquired slaves.

The first to settle on the coast were the French. The landing of the missionaries took place in 1637 and was doomed - they were immediately destroyed by the aborigines. 50 years later, the French again attempted to establish a settlement here. This time they were well armed. A little later, in the 18th century, French missionaries decided to expand their possessions by organizing two more residential camps. However, they lasted only for a few years.

Another group of immigrants from France arrived on the Ivory Coast in 1842 and built the Grand Bassam fort on the coast. And four years later they established a protectorate over most of the local tribes. Beginning in 1887, the French gradually concluded pacts with the natives and within six years established borders with the Gold Coast and Liberia. The state received the status of a French colony in 1893, a couple of years later the Ivory Coast was allocated as part of French West Africa, and in 1946 it was called an overseas territory of France.

Declaration of independence

Ivory Coast became an independent state on August 7, 1960, led by President Houphouët-Boigny, who was the leader of the Democratic Party. And it was she who was the only ruling body. According to the laws issued, private property became inviolable, but the country remained an appendage of France.

The state economy at that time was in excellent condition, and its growth rate reached 11% per annum. In 1979, Ivory Coast was recognized as the world leader in the production of cocoa beans. But he owed much of his success to a large supply of inexpensive labor, investments coming from abroad, and a very favorable market situation.

Economic recession

Due to the fall in prices for cocoa and coffee, which occurred in 1980, the country's economy found itself in a very deplorable state. Plus, 1982-1983. turned out to be droughty, which led to an even sharper economic downturn and an increase in external debt. Houphouët-Boigny had to make concessions: he legalized several more parties, which became an alternative to the one of which he himself was the head, and initiated the electoral process. In 1990 he was proclaimed president.

Houphouët-Boigny did not rule in this post for long - he died 3 years later. Then his place was taken by the legal heir, Henri Conan Bedier. By the end of the century, the political situation was very unstable, and since only Ivorians were allowed to vote at that time, the ethnic division of society only worsened the situation.

Hostilities

A military coup in the country took place in 1999. Its organizer was Robert Guay, who held the next elections the following year. Laurent Gbagbo, who was the leader of the opposition, was declared the winner.

In 2002, civil war was brewing. It began with a military coup that occurred on December 25 of the same year. The war raged between the southern and northern parts of the country for several years. And despite the fact that already in 2003 it was possible to sign an agreement to end the clashes, lasting peace began only in the spring of 2007.

State symbols

The flag of the Ivory Coast, now Côte d'Ivoire, is a rectangular canvas with three equal-sized vertical stripes: orange on the left, white in the center and green on the right.

The coat of arms appeared in the 17th century, and it depicts the symbol of the country - an elephant.

Origin of names

The coast of the Gulf of Guinea was previously called the Gold Coast, Ivory Coast and Slave Coast. And each of these names had its own meaning.

For example, the Gold Coast got its name in the 15th century. It was so christened by sailors from Portugal who mined gold here. In the same century, the name Ivory Coast appeared. Why is it called that? At that time, Portuguese merchants bought ivory from the local population here. In the 16th-17th centuries, the Slave Coast was one of the main slave trading areas - it was from here that slaves were exported from Africa.

And everyone knows what the Ivory Coast is called today. In the 16th century, European industrialists named it Cote d'Ivoire.

Local architecture

Having figured out what the name Ivory Coast means, it’s worth moving on to the architecture of the republic. Traditional houses of the local population have different architectural forms. For example, in the southern part of the republic there are wooden houses of square or rectangular shape with a gable roof made of palm leaves. In the center you can find rectangular houses made of clay, often with rounded corners. They have a flat roof, and the outer surfaces of the walls are decorated with geometric patterns depicting birds, animals or mystical creatures. Primary colors: black, yellow and red. In other quarters there are round or oval dwellings with a cone-shaped roof made of straw.

Today, the area of ​​the formerly modest Ivory Coast is increasingly becoming like a modern city. Luxury hotels and large supermarkets, built of reinforced concrete and covered with wide sheets of glass, appear here.

Folk craft and art

Côte d'Ivoire is able to offer tourists a lot of souvenirs. First of all, these are wooden masks. Moreover, different nations have their own original shape, some are equipped with a movable jaw. The local culture is also reflected in figurines of animals, distant ancestors and patron spirits. You can also find figurines for children on sale.

Local residents are engaged in basket weaving. The material for them is a mat made of reed, straw or ordinary rope. The pottery craft is also thriving - various kitchen utensils and elements for interior decoration are made here. And jewelers can offer original jewelry made of bronze, copper and tin.

Batik production is developing well in the country, where amazing paintings with plant patterns or animals are made directly on fabrics. By the way, today the products of some peoples can be seen in the world's most famous museums.

The Ivory Coast is also famous for its talented artists, including Kadjo Jdaims Hura. He and other masters of painting (about 40 people) in 1983 took part in a professional exhibition organized in Côte d'Ivoire by the National Association of Artists.

Best time to travel to Ivory Coast

If you want to visit the south of the country, you should remember that a humid and hot tropical climate prevails here. It is characterized by rainy seasons followed by dry weather. In the northern part, the rains end in September, and from October until May, the drought lasts.

The most interesting time to spend in Côte d'Ivoire is in winter and spring. For example, in February, the Mask Festival is traditionally held here - a very popular event that attracts huge crowds of people. In March it is worth traveling to Bouakou, and in April to Fete du Dipris, where a very spectacular celebration is held with rituals that help drive out evil spirits.

Holidays for every taste

The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast, is an amazing place where you will find almost everything: a beach holiday, contemplation of the beauty of natural nature, immersion in the local color, sightseeing, unbridled nightlife, and a noisy market, and even a casino.

The most convenient beaches are in the Sassandra area, where you can not only enjoy the beautiful coastline and soft sand, but also go surfing. And in the villages located nearby, local residents offer tourists to taste real palm wine and learn all about the life of African tribes. Travelers will be taught how to fish and take a ride on a real pirogue.

If you love nature, then be sure to visit the Parc du Banco. These are real tropics, which are located in the very center of a dynamic metropolis. Such a contrast will surprise anyone.

In the evening it is worth going to Treyschville. This is where you can find several trendy nightclubs and end your day with joy.

National parks

In the southwest of the country there are national parks: Marahuz and Tan. They occupy approximately 3.6 thousand km2, and it is here that you will find amazingly preserved natural forest. The height of some trees in it reaches 50 meters. Due to their age, they have massive trunks and powerful rhizomes. This unique place will give you an unforgettable experience: tourists will find here relict nature, long vines and fast flows of natural waters. But it should be remembered that a walk through this charming landscape will require a lot of effort from the traveler, since it is located in the rainy zone, where there is always high humidity. Therefore, it is better to come here in winter – during the dry period. And before visiting, do not forget to obtain a special permit from the Ministry of Forests of Abidjan.

The largest national park is located in the western part - Comoe. You will be able to see the most beautiful mountain range, bamboo forests, picturesque waterfalls and watch how animals behave in their natural habitats: walking along animal trails, the tourist will learn how herds find water during the dry season.

Top attractions

In the capital of the Ivory Coast, the city of Yamoussoukro, is the magnificent Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Paix. It is an exact copy of the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter, and at the same time its dimensions are slightly larger. The President of the country spent his own money on its construction, and the result was impressive. The columns of the temple are covered with metal bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christ. The sunlight passing through the stained glass windows is reflected in different colors on the walls, and the sacred complex is decorated with marble. It is better to come here at Christmas, when the local population gathers in the basilica and traditional music sounds.

Another attraction that deserves special attention is St. Paul's Cathedral, covered with exquisite frescoes. It is made in architectural modernism, and right in front of it there is a tower in the form of the figure of the saint himself in long robes.

Most Popular Cities

The local population recommends that tourists begin their acquaintance with Côte d'Ivoire from the city of Abidjan. It is the largest in the country and is an important seaport. Due to its amazing beauty, it is also called the Paris of West Africa. The elegant city is located on four islands and has luxurious buildings on its territory, next to which there are green parks and tropical forests. In the center is the Saint-Paul Cathedral. It was built by Italians and consecrated in 1985 by the Pope. The Ivory Hotel also deserves attention here - this is the most popular hotel, which is the real pride of the local residents. Abidjan has tall skyscrapers, beautiful modern roads with multi-level interchanges, as well as large shopping centers, cafes and restaurants.

The second unique city is the complete opposite of luxurious Abidjan. This is Korhogo, home to local wood carving craftsmen. It is in this place that you can order yourself a unique mask that will become an accurate reflection of your character. Craftsmen will offer you several types of wood to choose from and, before starting work, they will try to find out what kind of person you are. In this place, the traveler will be able to get acquainted with several communities at once, each of which was able to preserve its cultural heritage. But it will be especially interesting to watch their ritual ceremonies.

Ivory Coast is not only a state

The old name of Côte d'Ivoire also relates to the modern floriculture industry. This is the name of the houseplant - Ivory Coast (Hosta). Its description is as follows. In the central part the leaves are bluish-blue, and along the edges there is a light border, like sand scattered along the coast.

In dry weather, its leaves should be sprayed with a spray bottle and wiped from dust from time to time. The Ivory Coast Hosta flower is unpretentious and grows well in bright rooms. With such care, it will grow into a lush bush and will delight the eye of its owner for a long time.

And inspired by this amazing country, Louis Jacolliot published a book in 1989 called “The Coast of Ebony and Ivory.” This is a fascinating story about travel, during which the main character finds himself and transforms as a person. The work is imbued with colors, flowers and incredible energy. From the first pages it captivates the reader with its plot, which you want to unravel. And the denouement turns out to be ingenious and simple at the same time.

COTE DIVOIRE - Republic of Cote d'Ivoire.

Côte d'Ivoire is a state in the outskirts of Central Africa. In the south there is the Guinea Hall. At-lan-ti-che-sko-go ocean (length of the coastal line 515 km). Gra-ni-chit on the se-ve-re with Ma-li and Bur-ki-na-Fa-so, on the east with Ga-na, on the back-pa-de with Li-be-ri- her and Guinea. Area 322.5 thousand km2. Population 20.8 million people (2008). Sto-li-tsa - Yamu-suk-ro. The official language is French. The monetary unit is the CFA franc. Administrative-territorial division: 19 regions (table).

Côte d'Ivoire is a member of the UN (1960), IMF (1963), IBRD (1963), WTO (1995), African Union (1963, until 2002 OAU).

Political system

Cote d'Ivoire is a unitary state. Constitution pri-nya-ta on July 23, 2000. Form of government - pre-zi-dent res-pub-li-ka.

The head of state and executive power is the president, elected at all-general elections for 5 years (with the right of one th re-re-iz-bra-niya). The candidate must be over 40 years old, a citizen of Côte d'Ivoire and have resided in the country continuously for 5 years before the election . The President is the Supreme Chief, but he is the Prime Minister, a member of new government and other senior officials.

The highest legislative body is the one-pa-lat par-la-ment (National Assembly), from the bi-rae-my na-se-le- no for 5 years.

Government - Council of Ministries, functions under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

In Côte d'Ivoire there is a multi-parti-tiy system. Leading political parties: Ivu-a-r-popular front, Democratic party, Ob-e-di-non-res-pub-li- kan-tsev.

Nature

The coastline of the Gulf of Guinea is weak, in the western part - rocky, in the eastern part - flat, dog -cha-nye, with a long chain of la-gun (over 300 km, the largest - Eb-rie, Abi, Ehi), connected with mo- we are building an artificial sewer in the area of ​​the city of Abid-zhan.

Cote d'Ivoire is located in the southern part of Se-ve-ro-Guinea-high-elevation. In the relief of the territory of the country, the pre-ob-la-da-has weakly-divided plains with an altitude of 200-500 m. The western part is beyond -no-ma-yut tso-col-nye de-well-yes-qi-on-nye flat-mountain-rya and high-height-no-sti. In the extreme beyond, in the territory of Côte d'Ivoire, they come from Leo-no-Li-be- Riy mountains (massi-you Dan, Tu-ra) height up to 1752 m (mountain Nim-ba, the highest point of the country). In the eastern part of the country-country there are elevated de-well-yes-qi-he-plains, the surface of which is hourly then os-lozh-ne-na granit-ny-mi os-tan-tsa-mi (so-called in-zel-ber-ga-mi). Transition to the Ak-ku-mu-la-tiv seaside low-men-no-sti of the Gulf of Guinea in the south of Côte d'Ivoire exactly where you are -wives se-ri-ey po-ro-gov and vo-do-pa-dov.

Geo-logical structure and useful resources.

Ter-ri-to-ria C. d'Ivoire lo-ka-li-zu-et-sya in the south-eastern part of the early Af-ri-kan-sko-go kra-to-on the Af-ri-kan-skaya platform. On the surface you come to the ran-not-pro-te-ro-zoi-skie me-ta-mor-fi-zo-van-vul-ka-no-gen-no-ter -ri-gen-nye-ro-dy Bir-Roman-go belt-sa eastern. parts of Leo-no-Li-be-ri-sko-th shield, torn edges. On the coastal low-men-no-sti of the Gulf of Guinea there are neo-gen-quaternary sea and al-lu-vi-al - sediments that re-cover more ancient car-bo-nat-no-ter-ri-gene deposits.

The most important mineral resources of Côte d'Ivoire are gold (places of Iti, An-go-via, Sub- re, etc.), oil and natural combustible gas (offshore places of Bao-bab, Es-pu-ar, Lai-on, Pan- ter). There are places of al-ma-zov (indigenous and dew-rich), ores of mar-gan-tsa, iron-le-za, me- di, ni-ke-la, ko-bal-ta, nio-biya and tan-ta-la, bok-si-tov, as well as cement raw materials, quar-tse-vyh sand, clay, gravel, stone, etc.

In the southern part of the country, the climate is e-va-to-ri-al-ny, very yang-but-humid. On the coast you get from 1800 (Abid-zhan) to 2300 (Ta-bu) mm of precipitation per year, relative humidity is possible spirit during the whole year does not drop below 75%. In the eastern part of the coastal region there are two periods with the maximum amount of precipitation (March - July and October - November - November, over 100 mm of precipitation per month) and two very dry periods (December - February and August - September - September ). You get the least amount of rain (less than 50 mm) in January and February. In zap. partly on the coast from-me-cha-e-t one short-time from-no-si-tel-but dry period in January -re - February (less than 50 mm of precipitation), and in the remaining months of the year (from March to December) you-pa-da- There is more than 100 mm of precipitation every month, the rainiest month is June (more than 500 mm). The annual variation of the air temperature is equal: the average temperature of the hottest months (March - April) is 27-28 ° C, sa- wet cold (August - September - September) 24-25 °C.

Su-be-k-va-to-ri-al-ny climate of the central and northern parts of the country ha-rak-te-ri-zu-et-sya less amount of precipitation and you clearly have a seasonal uv-laz-no-no-ness. On the plains you receive about 1100 mm of precipitation per year, in the north of the pas deux, in the foothills of the Leo-no-Li-beri mountains mountains, - 1300-1500 mm (on the slopes of Mount Nim-ba - up to 2200 mm). Duration of rainfall in the season for 7-8 months (March - October), the largest amount of precipitation you are in July - September (more than 150 mm per month). Average temperatures range from 23-24 °C (December - July) to 28-29 °C (February - March). In the mountainous regions of north-western countries, the climate is cooler (at an altitude of 1500 mm, average temperatures are 16-19 °C) . In the dry season in the territory of Cote d'Ivoire, the north-eastern dry wind - har-ma-tan - dominates.

Inland waters.

The river network is dense, and lies chiefly in the basin of the Gwyney Hall. Main rivers: Ban-da-ma (bass-sein square in the country's pre-deals 97 thousand km2, length 1050 km), Ko-moe (78 thousand km2, 1160 km ), Sa-san-d-ra (75 thousand km2, 650 km), Ka-val-li (15 thousand km2, 700 km). A small part of the territory in the north of the country (23.7 thousand km2) from no-sit to the basin of the river. Ni-ger (re-ki Bau-le, Ba-goe). Because of the rapids in the middle and lower regions, most of the rivers are not su-do-able. Significance of ko-le-ba-niya river flow by season. The river valleys are weak, that's why in the summer there are regular occurrences on-water-not-niya. For the be-re-go-howy zone ha-rak-ter-ny in-tru-zia mor. water (annual volume 0.74 km3). Created, yes, but several times. for storage: Ko-su on the river. Ban-da-ma (area 1500 km2), Buyo on the river. Sa-san-d-ra (area 900 km2), Aya-me on the river. Bio (area 186 km2).

Every year, new water resources amount to 81.14 km3, water supply - 4853 m3/person per year (2002). Most of the water consumed (67%) goes to agricultural needs (the area of ​​irrigated land is 72.8 thousand hectares, 2003), 22% goes to -mu-nal-but-that-would-have-been-supplied, 11% are required by industrial enterprises.

Soil, plant and living world. The distribution of the main types of soils is subject to wide-zonal dimensional restrictions. In the forest zone in the west. Parts of the country in the basins of the rivers Ka-val-li and Sa-san-d-ra pre-ob-la-da-yut red-yellow and red fer-ral- lithic soils. In the east, next to the red-yellow soils, there are a few yellow fer- ral-lit-nye. On the seaside ak-ku-mu-la-tiv-niz-men-no-sti the formation of marching soils was formed. In the Le-so-sa-vann zone, a complex of fer-ral-lite soils and fer-ro-zems has developed. In the central part of the country, in the lower parts of the country, there are black tropical soils. In the zone, sa-vann pre-ob-la-da-yut fer-ro-ze-we; a significant area is covered by ancient (at the top-level heights of 350-550 m) and young (150-200 m) os-tat-ki la-te-rit-nykh kor you-vet-ri-va-niya (ki-ra-sy). In the valleys of large rivers there are areas of hydromorphic al-luvial soils.

The flora includes over 3.5 thousand species of higher plants (of which over 100 are under threat of extinction, over 60 en-de-mich-ny). In the southern regions of the country, the pre-o-la-give st-yang-but-humid ever-green and half-fox-fallen forests Guinea zone. In the ever-green forests, shi-ro-ko tree-springs from the seeds of legumes appear (par-kiya, pip-ta -de-niya, erit-rof-le-um, etc.). In the half-fox-and-fallen forests there are many species from the families of mallows, ster-ku-lie-s, and elms and here and there. For both their types of le-sov ha-rak-ter-ny de-re-vya with a valuable tree-ve-si-noy - en-tan-d-rof-rag-ma and kaya. In modern ras-tit. the forest cover 7.1 million hectares (2002), during the period of farming. development of the territory, the area of ​​forests has decreased and will continue to shrink -xia. The rate of deprivation in Côte d'Ivoire is the highest in Africa and one of the highest in the world (up to 7 % in year). Reasons for deprivation: le-so-for-go-to-commodities (including illegal ones), expansion of the plan-ta- tion ka-kao, ko-fe and one-year-old cult-tur (ku-ku-ru-za, rice, ma-ni-ok, ba-nan). In the place of the new ever-green forests, there would be a pre-established pio-ner-naya plant. body-ness (fun-tu-miya, ho-lar-re-na).

To the north of the Guinean zone, with an increase in the length of the su-ho-season up to 3-4 months -sa change-nya-yut-sya le-so-sa-van-na-mi. Typical high-grass sa-vans of the Su-dan zone, covering 1/3 of the country’s territory, dis- -countries in the northern part. Of the ancient species for sa-baths ha-rak-ter-ny pre-sta-vi-te-li bo-bo-vyh --bur-key, af-ze-lia, iso-ber- line, as well as com-bre-tum, lo-fi-ra, etc. The soil-vein cover is represented by evil from the clans of pa-ni- godfather, an-d-ro-po-gon, elio-nu-rus, etc., che-re-duyu-schi-mi-sya with za-ros-la-mi kus-tar-ni-kov from bau- hi-nii, com-bre-tu-ma and gar-de-nii. Along the rivers in the area of ​​sa-vann da-le-ko to the north there are ga-le-ray-nye forests with pre-ob-la-da-ni-em qi-no-meters. On the peri-rio-di-che-ski for the p-lya-my teaching-st-kah river floodplains there is pre-ob-la-da-et gi-par-re-niya. In the zo-ne sa-vann shi-ro-ko raz-vi-bo-gar-noe earth-le-de-lie (ku-ku-ru-za, rice, peanuts, cotton-chat-nick) , you-ra-schi-va-yut-sya mas-la-noe de-re-vo (ka-ri-te), man-go, etc.

In the mountains of the north-western part of the country you have the same height of clarity. The lower parts of the slopes are behind-nya-you ever-but-ze-le-ny-mi ek-va-to-ri-al-ny-mi le-sa-mi (lo-fi-ra, hl-ro-for-ra, ter-mi-na-lia, etc.), at an altitude of 600-1600 m they are replaced by eda-phic sa-vans with ga-le-rey-ny-mi le-sa-mi. Higher races, you have mountainous meadows with Afro-Al-Piy-skaya plant-ness and learning re -the face of the high-mountain forests.

The living world is rich and unique.

The fauna includes 230 species of melting mammals (19 are in danger of extinction), over 250 species of nests living birds (12 under the threat of extinction), 125 species of the most repentant and approx. 40 land-aquatic species, including a living toad. There are especially many and different types of monkeys (over 10 species of primates), among them are pa- vi-an anu-bis, mar-tysh-ki (dia-na, mo-na, etc.), ko-lo-bu-sy, western sub-species shim-pan-ze, outside -sen-ny in the IUCN Red Book, as well as sweat and ha-la-go. There are known 28 types of couples: bo-ro-da-voch-nick, kis-te-eared pig, en-de-mich-ny for the West. Af-ri-ki kar-li-ko-vy be-ge-mot, different-but-about-different po-lo-ro-gies (bush-bok, do-ke-ry, bon-go, si -ta-tun-ga, ori-bi, lo-sha-di-naya an-ti-lo-pa, water-dya-noy and swamp goats, Af-ri-kan-buy- ox), etc. Over 25 species of predators, including different types of species (ge-not-you, qi-ve-you), among -di rare species - le-o-pard, golden Af-ri-kan cat, ge-no-vid-naya so-ba-ka. For the fauna of Côte d'Ivoire, lizards and trumpets are the same. Once upon a time, the African elephant was widely distributed in the territory of the country and no longer inhabits it. in the pre-de-la oh-ra-nya-my territories. On ter-ri-to-rii re-zer-va-ta Abu-kua-mek-ro in-tro-du-tsi-ro-van white no-so-horn. There are still a lot of birds (fran-ko-li-ny, me-do-ukaz-chi-ki, ti-mel-lii, clear-t-re-bi-nye, etc. ), snakes (pi-to-ny, etc.). In the rivers there are kro-ko-di-ly: Nil-sky, Af-ri-kan-sky narrow-skinned and tu-snout-ly. Ras-pro-stra-ne-na mu-ha tse-tse. The diversity of their fauna in coastal waters is great (over 250 species of fish).

The system of oh-ra-nya-my natural territories is dos-ta-precisely but re-pre-zen-ta-tiv-na and oh-va-you-va - ok. 17% of the country's area. The list of All-world-but-next includes national. parks Ko-moe (area 1.15 thousand hectares, one of the largest in Western Africa) and Tai (one of the largest massifs in Ma-lo-na -ru-shen-humid ever-green forests), from-not-hay-also to bio-sphere-reserves-there UNESCO, trans- Boundary reservoir of Mont-Nim-ba (Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea).

Population

The majority of people in the village of Côte d'Ivoire speak the following languages: in in the south-east of the country the Kwa people live (31%), including the Akan - 26% (Bau-le 16%, Anyi 4.4%) and La-gun -nye-ro-dy; on se-ve-ro-vo-sto-ke - gur (18.2%, including mo-si 12%, ku-lan-go, lo-bi, lig-bi, etc.); on se-ve-re - se-nu-fo (9.6%); in the south-pas-de-cru (8.5%, including be-te 3.4%, ge-re and vo-be 2.9%, di-da, gre-bo, nyab -va, go-dieu, kru-men, ai-zi, bak-ve, etc.) etc.; in the west, se-ve-ro-za-pas-de and se-ve-ro-in-stock - man-de-lingual peoples (28.7%), including man -den 19.4% (malinke 9.6%, bam-ba-ra 5%, du-la 2.4%, Mau, vo-ro-du-guka, etc.), southern man-de - 8.3% (dan 4.4%, gu-ro 2.6%, ben, tu-ra, mu-an, uan, yau-re, etc.), as well as so-nin-ke, bo -zo, bi-sa, etc. In the cities of Cote d'Ivoire there are also Ful-be (2.1%), Hau-sa (0.6%), Yoru-ba ( 0.5%), Arabs (0.3%), French, Germans, English, etc.

Since the second half of the 20th century, the country’s population has increased more than five times (3.9 million people in 1960; 20.8 million people in 2008); the average rate of natural growth of the population is declining (2.2% in 2008; 4.4% in 1973- 1982). The birth rate (32.7 per 1000 inhabitants; 2008) significantly exceeds the mortality rate (11.2 per 1000 inhabitants). Po-ka-za-tel fer-til-no-sti 4.2 children per 1 woman; infant mortality rate is 69.8 per 1000 live-days. In the age structure, the pre-ob-la-da-et on-the-se-le-tion of work-up-of-age (15-64 years ) - 56.3%, the share of children under 14 years old is 40.9%, persons 65 years old and older - 2.8%. The average age in the village is 19 years (2008). The average life expectancy is 54.6 years (men - 53.9, women - 55.4 years). The ratio of men and women is approximately equal. Sal-to external mi-gra-tions, most of the labor mi-grants come from neighboring countries (mostly from Bur-ki-na-Fa-so, Ma-li, Guinea). The average population density is 64.5 people/km2 (2008; one of the highest in Tropical Africa). The most densely populated area is the south of the country (up to 384 people/km2 in the Abidzhan region, 106.2 people/km2 in the From-ma-zhe region). In northern, eco-but-less developed areas, the average population density is significantly lower (14.6 people/km2 in Den-ge-le region). To the mountains. on-se-le-niya would-st-ro-increase-li-chi-va-et-sya due to the hundred-yan-no-th rural residents and them- mi-grants (24% in 1965; 42% in 1985; over 50% in 2008). Large cities (thousand people, 2008): Abi-jan (3900), Bua-ke (624.5), Da-loa (234.7), Yamu-suk-ro (227 ), Ko-ro-go (200.2), San Ped-ro (160.2). The economy employs 6.9 million people, of which approx. 68% in agriculture (2007). The unemployment rate is 40% (estimate). 42% of the country's population lives below the poverty line (2006).

Religion

About 40% of the population (2006 estimate) of Côte d'Ivoire is mu-sul-ma-ne-sun-ni-ty, about 28% is Christian (including h. about 19% - ka-to-li-ki, about 6% - pro-test-tan-you), approx. 30% are adherents of traditional cults. There are also female believers of Af-rokh-ri-sti-an-sin-kre-ti-che-cults (har-rizm, etc.), Bud-di -sty, in-dui-sty, ba-hai-you, etc.

Act-st-vu-yut 4 mi-tro-poly and 11 dio-tse-zov of the Roman Church. The largest pro-tes-tant organization is the United Me-to-di-st-church of Cote d'Ivoire (founded in 1924 year, self-sustaining status since 1985). The right-glorious parishes are held in the juris-dik-tsi-and Alek-san-d-riy-sky right-glorious church.

Is-to-ri-che-sky essay

Côte d'Ivoire is not yet available. Ar-cheo-logical discoveries (so-called non-o-li-tical mas-ter-skie along the banks of rivers) evidence-de-tel-st-vu-yut about for -se-le-nii ter-ri-to-rii Cote d'Ivoire in the stone century. In the III-II millennia BC. e. in the sa-van-ny zone, and then in the forest zone, the development of land began; in the 1st millennium AD e. a wide-ranging race of industrial production, pottery crafts, weaving -wow, that's a lot of gold. At the beginning of the 2nd millennium, those who came from the se-ve-ro-behind the na-ro-dy se-nu-fo settled here; The city of Kong, founded by them, became one of the largest centers of kar-ra-van trade in Western Africa. In the XV-XVI centuries, se-nu-fo were from-tes-ne-ny in the se-ve-ro-za-pad man-de-language-ny-mi na-ro-da-mi (ma-lin -ke, diu-la, etc.), creating a state education centered in Kong at the beginning of the 18th century. In the 15th century, in the area between the rivers Ka-moe and Black Vol-ta, a state was formed in the region of Ab-ron - Bo-no; on the other side of the river Ban-da-ma is the ran-ne-go-sovereign organization of Anya and Bau-le. The northern part of the territory of Cote d'Ivoire is included in the sphere of influence of the states of Western Sou-da-na - Ga-ny, Ma-li and Son-gay.

At the end of the 15th century, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, Europeans, mainly Portu-Galians, became ivory bone from here (the name of the country is Côte d'Ivoire translated from the French language oz-na-cha-et Be-reg Slo-no -how Kos-ti, BSK), gold and slaves. On-cha-lo ko-lo-ni-za-tion of Côte d'Ivoire po-lo-zhi-li in 1637, the French mis-sio-ne-ry. In the 1840s, the French settled on the coast of Cote d'Ivoire, in the 1880s they began to move into deep into the country. In 1887-1889, France on-via-za-la a number of so-called. so-yuz-nich. to the lords of the African states and the lords of the tribes. In 1892, according to the French-Liberian convention, there were op-re-de-le-ny borders of the French dominions and Li-Beriya ( Subsequently, the decisions of the convention were changed more than once in favor of France), in 1893 French-British con-ven-tion - borders with the British co-lo-ni-y Zo-lo-ta Be-reg.

In 1893, the BSK was announced to the co-lo-tion of France (before that, the French-occupied territories of ad-mi- neither-st-ra-tiv-but entered into the composition of the Se-ne-gal colony), in 1895 included in the French Western Af-ri-ki. The main industry of the co-lo-ni-al-no-eco-no-mi-ki BSK has become the mining industry (extracting gold, al-ma-zov, mar-gan-tse-voy ore), as well as the development of forest wealth; po-lu-chi-lo development plan-tats. house-st-vo, kul-ti-vi-ro-va-li ex-port kul-tu-ry - ka-kao, coffee-fe, ba-na-ny.

At the end of the 1930s, trade unions and public organizations of Africans arose in the BSK, you stood with the demand -va-niya-mi gives them political rights. In October 1946, BSK received status in the overseas territory of France (within the framework of the French Society); part of the village of BSK began to participate in the elections of representatives of the French par-la-ment, as well as in the general -ral council of ter-ri-to-rii, on-de-leny with substantive functions (in 1952, pre-ra-zo-van in ter-ri- to-ri-al-nuyu representative as-samb-ley, in 1958 - to the educational as-samb-ley). In 1946, the first party of the African nation was created - the Democratic Party (DP; ter-ri-to-ri-al-naya section Af-ri-kan-sko-go de-mo-kra-ti-che-sko-go ob-e-di-ne-niya) led by D.F. Houphoue-Bu-a-nyi. According to the agreement of 1956, Houphouet-Bu-a-nyi participated in the development of something, everything was introduced -general electoral law, up-divided division of bi-ra-te-leys into two cur-rias (African and European) ro-pay-skaya), the rights of the ter-ri-to-ri-al-noy for-co-dative as-samb-ley have expanded. According to the re-zul-ta-there re-fe-ren-du-ma, on September 28, 1958, BSK received the status of a state member of the French Co. -society. There was a sfor-mi-ro-va-but pra-vi-tel-st-vo, Ufue-Bu-a-nyi became his pre-se-da-te-lem.

Cote d'Ivoire since 1960.

The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire was pro-voz-gla-she-on August 7, 1960. She left the French Society, but maintained close ties with the former. metro-po-li-ey (in 1961, the government of Côte d'Ivoire entered into a series of agreements with France on eco-friendly -no-mic and military cooperation). In November 1960, there was a constitution of the country. Formally, but she did not for-shall the activities of the op-positional political party, but in fact the unity of the party The DP was recognized by the second party of Côte d'Ivoire, under the control of which all trade unions and -social organization. In November 1960, the DP won election to the National Council, then D.F. Houphoue-Bu-a-nyi was elected pre-zi-den-tom of the res-pub-li-ki. The subsequent presidential and par-lamentary elections also pro-ho-di-li on a non-al-ter-na-tiv-noy OS -but-ve. Pra-vi-tel-st-vo pro-vo-di-lo-li-beral-nuyu eco-no-mich. po-li-ti-ku; a course was taken to attract foreigners. ka-pi-ta-la, development of the cha-st-no-go before-pri-ni-ma-tel-st-va. In the 1960-1980s, the rate of economic growth was very high (due to the use of funds received from ex -por-ta ko-fe and ka-kao-bo-bov), which is in many ways a way to support the internal ri-po-li-tich. stability in the republic.

In the 1980s, following the rise of world prices for coffee and eco-no-mi-ka, countries entered into -severe crisis. Inflation, mass production without work and a sharp decline in the standard of living in the country have become the cause growth of an-ti-pra-vi-telstv. mood. In May 1990, D.F. Ufue-Bu-a-nyi le-ga-li-zo-val activity of op-positional political party and or-ga-ni-za-tion. At the presidential elections on October 28, 1990, he defeated the candidate from the op-zi-tion L.K. Gbag-bo.

On the eve of the presidential elections of 1995, the National Council of Côte d'Ivoire took the right to the constitution tions, according to which only those who had a birth-di-te-lei-ivua could be nominated for the presidential post. r-tsev (one or both). This is right li-shi-la li-de-ra op-po-zits. parties Ob-e-di-ne-nie re-pub-li-kan-tsev (os-no-va-na in 1994 in the re-zul-ta-te race-co-la DP) A.D . Uat-ta-ru, bur-ki-niy-tsa according to the process, it is possible to participate in elections. On October 22, 1995, the representative of the Democratic Party E.A.K. was elected president. Be-dier (other kan-di-da-you boy-ko-ti-ro-va-li you-bo-ry).

Pere-ri-od na-ho-zh-de-niya Be-dier on the pre-zi-dent-sky in-stu was noted further-shey des-ta-bi-li-za-tsi -it’s inside-ri-po-li-tich. ob-sta-nov-ki, called-in, including dis-kri-mi-nats. according to the right-of-government-st-va from-no-she-niy to im-mi-gran-there (about quarter-of-a-hour in the village of Kot- d'Ivoire consists of immigrants from other countries, mainly from Bourke-na-Faso, Benin, Ghana, Guinea). In 1999, at the new presidential elections, mass events were held in the capital and other cities of the country -mon-st-ra-tion in support of A.D. Uat-ta-ry. Vos-pol-zo-va-shis si-tua-tsi-ey, the military is headed by a retired general. R. Gyue-em so-ver-shi-li state re-re-in-mouth. There was an announcement about the implementation of a new constitution, the displacement of the pre-zi-den, the growth pus-ke pra-vi-tel-st-va and par-la-men-ta. Power passed to the National Committee for Public Spa. In January 2000, a re-moving government was formed, in which Gyu-ey took over the post of pre-zi-den-ta re-publications and ministries of defense.

On July 23, 2000, the re-fe-ren-du-me was approved by the new Constitution of Cote d'Ivoire (entered into power on August 1, 2000 of the year); article about tre-bo-va-ni-yah to kan-di-da-tu in pre-zi-den-you were left without iz-me-no-niy. The Presidential elections on October 22, 2000 ended in victory for the Ivorian Popular Front (INF; created in 1983 in France) L.K. Gbag-bo. According to the results of the parliamentary elections (December 10, 2000 - January 14, 2001), the INF and the DP were approximately equal. how many places? You didn't lead to the normalization of the situation in the country. On September 19, 2002, the military seized power in the cities of Abi-jan, Bua-ke and Ko-ro-go. I managed to get through it, one day I popped up. groups took control of all the northern, as well as part of the central and western regions. There have been clashes on ethnic grounds (between Ivois-r-tsa-mi and im-mi-gran-ta-mi, as well as between -du before-hundreds of different peoples).

In March 2003, a coalition government of the national government was formed, which included members of the FPI, DP, Pov-stanskaya org-ga-ni-za-tion and Ob-e-di-ne-niya re-pub-li-kan-tsev. However, just a year later, the mi-s-ters, who presented the op-position, announced the fight against the work of -vi-tel-st-va in connection with the time of ma-ni-fe-sta-tion si-la-mi safety-no-sti Cote d'Ivoire (po-gi-lo over 100 people). In early April 2004, to provide assistance to the government in the conflict in the country Were the military sub-divisions of the UN right?

In the summer of 2004, in Ak-kra (Ga.), there was a summit of the heads of 13 African states, at which tel-st-vom Côte d'Ivoire and the pov-stan-tsa-mi would-have-tig-well-a-word about the ure-gu-li-ro-va-nii of the internal con- flick-ta. However, the situation still remained unstable, since the Hundreds of ra-zo-ru-zha-sya. In these conditions, L.K. Gbag-bo decided to postpone the presidential elections at a later date, which will be held first -slowly they stopped for a while in 2005 (in the future they left several more times). In the beginning of March 2007, in Goa, in the capital of Bur-ki-na-Fa-so - the city of Ua-ga-du-gu, the re-re-go was completed -ry between Gbag-bo and Li-de-rum of the Ivorian op-positional forces G.K. So-ro. Sto-ro-ny under-pi-sa-whether with-gla-she-nie, pre-du-smat-ri-va-va-creation of a new transition The government of the country is headed by So-ro (formed on April 7, 2007). In front of the government of Côte d'Ivoire, they stand for the cause of the rebel ranks, the re-establishment of new le-niu raz-ru-shen-noy in-fra-structure-tu-ry, ure-gu-li-ro-va-niu inter-ethnic pro-ti-vo-re-chiy, as well as to ensure the promotion of presidential and parliamentary elections.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Côte d'Ivoire were established in 1967 (previous governments) st-vom Côte d'Ivoire in 1969, re-established in 1986). The turnover between two countries amounts to 153.2 million US dollars (2004). The Russian Federation after-to-va-tel-but you-stu-pa-et for a political ure-gu-li-ro-va-nie of the conflict in Côte d’Ivoire.

Farm

Os-no-wa eco-no-mi-ki Cote d'Ivoire - agriculture. Since the beginning of the 2000s, the economic situation has been false due to internal instability. Since 2004, Côte d’Ivoire has been the pre-kra-sche-no cre-di-to-va-nie of the World Bank. Per-spec-ti-you development of the country is connected with di-ver-si-fi-ka-tsi-ey eco-no-mi-ki, in-high-she-ni- We eat the role of a frequent sector, with the attraction of foreign investment, overcoming adversity.

GDP volume is 33.1 billion dollars (according to the pa-ri-te-tu according to the ability to buy; 2007); per capita in the village 1.7 thousand dollars. Human development index 0.432 (2005; 166- e place among 177 countries of the world). Real GDP growth was 1.6% (2007; 11% in the 1960s, 6% in the 1970s - early 1980s, 5% in the late 1990s). In the structure of GDP, the share of the agricultural sector is 50%, agriculture - 28%, industry - 22%.

Industry.

An important role is played by the ug-le-vo-do-ro-dov in the eastern part of the Guinean Gulf shelf. The total volume of oil production (as of 1980) is 52 thousand barrels per day (2007; 15 thousand barrels per day in 2002). Largest birth places (2007): Es-pu-ar (28.1 thousand barrels/day), Bao-bab (21.1 thousand barrels/day) , Lai-on (1.9 thousand barrels/day). Up to now it has been conducted mainly under the control of the state. company “So-ciété Nationale d’Opera-tions Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire” (“Pet-roci”). OK. 60% of the oil is exported, 2/3 of which goes to the countries of Western Europe (mainly to Germany) and to Canada .

Natural gas production has been increasing since the beginning of the 1990s (16 billion m3 in 2002; 22 billion m3 in 2006). Leading companies: Foxtrot International, Petroci, Energy de Côte d'Ivoire, etc. All gas is used within the country (mainly tre-bi-tel - electric-energy-ge-ti-ka).

The demand for electricity is fully covered at the expense of our own fuel resources. The installed power of electric power plants is 1.1 thousand MW (2005). Electricity production is 5.3 billion kWh, exports are 1.1 billion kWh (2006). Most of your energy is produced at thermal power plants (working at natural gas). The largest thermal power plant is “Azi-to” in the Abid-zhan district (1999; installed new capacity 288 MW, over 1/3 of work -vae-my electric-energy). About 1/5 of the electricity is produced at hydroelectric power stations; the most important ones are “Ayame I” and “Ayame II” on the river. Bio, "Kossou" and "Taabo" on the river. Ban-da-ma, “Buyo” on the river. Sa-san-d-ra.

The country's only oil refinery of the Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR) company is located in Abidjan (capacity 65 thousand barrels/day ; 47.3% of shares belong to the state). A second oil refinery is under construction (since 2008, commissioning in 2011) in the Abidzhan area (capacity 60 thousand barrels/day). Ex-port of oil-te-pro-duk-tov in Ma-li, Bur-ki-na-Fa-so, Niger.

There is a lot of gold production (1.3 tons in 2006, 3.6 tons in 2002; the birthplaces of Iti and Sub-re; large -shie companies - French "La Man-cha Resources Inc." and the state "Société pour le Développement Minier en Côte d'Ivoire"), al-ma-zov (300 thousand carats in 2006; paradise -ons Tor-tiya and Se-ge-la in the se-ve-re and beyond the country).

There are small metallurgical and metallurgical and metallurgical enterprises (steel production) sheets of imported for-go-to-wok, metal-personal roofing materials, ar-ma-tu-ry, pipes, production -lo-ki, etc. in Abid-zhan), for the assembly of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, bicycles dov and by-out elek-tro-tech-nich. from-de-liy (Abi-d-zhan), numerous chemical enterprises (production of la-co-kra-juicy from-de-liy and plastic masses , steam-fu-mer-no-cos-me-tic production, waste-chemicals, conveniences, pest-ti-ci-ds, etc.), plant for the production of cellulose (San Pedro; about 200 thousand tons of cellulose per year), two textile-stylish com-bi-na-ta (Bua- ke and Dim-bok-ro; mostly cotton fabrics from local cotton and in insignificant quantities ve - synthetic fabrics from imported raw materials). There are several small leather-vein-but-footwear enterprises, a match factory (60-100 million boxes in year), shipbuilding and repair shipyards (in Abidzhan). How-to-be-developed-for-the-vi-tel-naya and de-re-about-ra-ba-you-from-ras -li (about 600 thousand m3 of pi-lo-ma-te-ria-lov per year); Most of the enterprises are located in the south. districts of the country. The production of construction materials plays a significant role in the economy. There is a supply of sand, gravel, limestone, and other construction raw materials. There is a ceramic factory in Abidzhan. The food industry is important. The main production is many. some small enterprises - palm oil, ka-kao oil, instant coffee, con-serv-ro-van-anas -sweets and fruit juices, fish canned goods. Large flour-and-bread-and-bread commissaries are in Abidzhan and San Pedro.

Agriculture.

The leading branch is the water-plant. Along with modern ag-ro-technical me-to-da-mi (especially in plantation farms), practically -te-ma re-false-no-go land-le-de-lia. About 10% of the country's territory (according to approx. 4%), of which approx. 1/2 comes to po-sad-ki ka-kao. In terms of production of cocoa beans, Côte d'Ivoire ranks 1st in the world (over 1 million tons in 2005; on average, about 46 % of world production; 15% of GDP value). Coffee also has ex-port significance (collection of 130.8 thousand tons of green grains in 2005; 11th place in the world, mainly the ro-bu-sta variety, about 5% - ara-bi-ka), ara-his (72.5 thousand tons); ore-hi ke-shu (59 thousand tons; 7th place in the world), ba-na-ny (36.1 thousand tons), ana-na-sy (34.8 thousand tons ; 18th place in the world), sugar cane (22.8 thousand tons), co-nuts, avo-ka-do, man -go, clap-chat-nick. Means. square-di-za-nya-you under the plan-ta-tion-mi mas-personal palm-we (kul-ti-vi-ru-yut for pro-iz-va palm-mo-vo-go mas -la), under the garden-ka-mi he-vei. Cote d'Ivoire is Africa's largest producer of na-tu-ral-no-go kau-chu-ka (72.4 thousand tons in 2005 ; 8th place in the world). The most important food crops (collection, thousand tons; 2005): yam 605, plan-tein 299, rice 245, ma-ni-ok 108, ku-ku-ru-za 106. Living waters develop mainly in the northern regions, in the central and southern regions no-sit ocha-go-vy ha-rak-ter. In the region (thousand heads; 2005) there are goats and sheep - 2700; cattle 1500, pigs 333.

One of the most promising species is fishing. Annual catch approx. 70 thousand tons (mainly tu-nets and sar-di-ny).

Transport.

Côte d'Ivoire has a multi-branched road network, its density is especially high in the southern regions. The length of the road is 80 thousand km, including 6.5 thousand km with hard smoke on the roof (2006). The auto-transport provides delivery of almost all ex-port products to the point where you are at -be-re-zhie and trans-por-tirov-ku im-port cargoes in various regions of the country. Av-do-ro-ga-mi, pro-le-gayu-schi-mi along the coastline of the Gulf of Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire is connected with Ga- noah, To-go, Be-ni-nom, Ka-me-ru-nom, Ni-ge-ri-ey. The length of the single railway road (Abid-zhan - border with Bur-ki-na-Fa-so) is 660 km; the volume of grazing and cargo is shrinking due to the growing melting con-ku-ren tions with cars. Seaports - Abi-jan (cargo turnover about 19 million tons per year, the largest in Western Africa; provides over 90% of external -not-tor-go-vykh per-re-vo-zok) and San Ped-ro (in the main way you-carry trees-ve-si-ny and pi-lo-ma-te-ria-lov). 7 aero-ports have a take-off at the airport with heavy smoke on the roof (2007). Inter-national air-ports - in Abid-zhan, Yamu-suk-ro and Bua-ke.

International trade.

The cost of the ex-port is 18.5 billion dollars, the import of the port is 6.1 billion dollars (2007). In the commodity structure of the ex-port to-mi-ni-ru-et agricultural production: ka-kao-bo-by (about 30% of the cost- sti) and ka-kao-pro-duk-you, coffee-fe, cotton-chat-nick, kau-chuk, palm-oil, fruit; OK. 25% of the cost of the ex-port is provided by oil and oil products. Among other things are dre-ve-si-na and pi-lo-ma-te-ria-ly, fish preserves. Major prices (2006): Germany (9.7% of value), Nigeria (9.1%), Netherlands dy (8.4%), France (7.3%), USA (7%), Burki-na-Fa-so (4.4%). Côte d'Ivoire imports oil and oil products (over 33% of the cost), machinery and equipment -tion, transport means, pro-volume. The main suppliers are Nigeria (30.5% of cost), France (16.4%), China (6.7%) .

Armed forces

The Armed Forces (AF) of Côte d'Ivoire consist of Sukhoi Forces (SV), Air Force, Navy, Presidential Guard and Gendar -city (over 17.1 thousand people; 2007), and there are also military formations - mi-li-tion (1, 5 thousand people; 2007). The annual military budget is $300 million (2007).

The supreme leader is the President, who leads the Armed Forces through the Ministry of Defense us and the headquarters of the Armed Forces. SV (6.5 thousand people) includes 4 military districts, 1 tank and 3 infantry. ba-tal-o-na, separate art. di-vi-zi-on, pa-ra-shute-no-de-sant-nu group, engineering company and zen-nit-no-art. ba-ta-ray. The army has 15 tanks (including 5 light ones), 31 armored personnel carriers, 25 armored personnel carriers, 4 105-mm guns, 16 120-mm mi-no-myo- Comrade, pro-ti-vo-tan-ko-vye and zenith-nye media. In the Air Force (700 people) there is a service, transport, communications and helicopter es-kad-ri-ly (several sa-mo -le-tov and ver-to-le-tov, including 4 combat sa-mo-le-ta). The Navy (950 people) includes several landing and patrol rudder boats. The number of the Presidential Guard is 1.4 thousand people, the Gendarmerie is 7.6 thousand people. Weapons and military equipment are mainly of French production.

A set of aircraft on the basis of all-common military personnel of male age 18 years , and also you-bo-roch-but under the contract. The training of an officer and a non-ter-officer's co-sta-va is carried out mainly in France . Some of the junior level officers are working in the national. military school and flight school in Bua-ka. Mobilization resources 4 million people, including 2.1 million people fit for military service. In 1961, France and Côte d'Ivoire agreed to joint defense (dis-lo-tsi-ru-ut-xia French military - about 3.8 thousand people).

Health

In Côte d'Ivoire, per 100 thousand inhabitants there are 12 doctors, 60 paramedical personnel, 2 hundred-ma-to-lo-ha, 6 pharmacies -tsev-tov (2004). Total expenditures on health care amount to 3.9% of GDP (2005) (budgetary fi-nan-si-ro-va- tion - 27.6%, private sector - 72.4%) (2003). Legal re-gu-li-ro-va-nie of the health-care system of implementation -the health of the village and the living environment from the effects of industrial and radio-active waste (1988 ). The health care system includes city private medical and dental institutions. In rural areas, medical care is limited in volume and quality due to the lack of personnel ditch The most widespread infections are bak-te-ri-al-naya di-zen-the-riya, hepatitis A, ma-l-aria, yellow li-ho-rad-ka, shis-to-so-ma-toz (2008). The main causes of death in adults in the population: AIDS, malaria, lower respiratory diseases, -ber-ku-lez, ser-dech-but-so-su-di-stye for-bo-le-va-niya, trauma-we, cancer (2004). Seaside climatic resort of Grand-Basam.

National Olympic Committee founded in 1962, recognized by the IOC in 1963. Sportsmen of Côte d'Ivoire have been participating in the Olympic Games since 1964 (with the exception of 1980); G. Tya-kokh, who took 2nd place in the 400 m run (Los -And-zhe-les, 1984). In 1960, the Ministry of Youth and Sports was established. In the 1960s, the first sports federations were created in the country and a number of national events were held.

The most popular types of sports: judo, boxing, football, handball, athletics, rowing kah and ka-noe. The Ivory Coast football team is on foot, but you are participating in international meetings - ob-la-da-tel (1992) and fi-na-list (2006) Cup-ka Af-ri-ki, student of the fi-nal part of than-pio-na- that world in Germany (2006). The strongest football countries of the country are in the leading European clubs: D. Drog-ba - in the co-sta-ve of London -sky "Chel-si" than-pi-on of England (2005, 2006); A.K. Kay-ta - in the team of "Lyon" than-pi-on France (2008); K.H. Tu-re - in “Ar-se-na-le” (London, since 2002); his brother Ya. Tu-re - in “Bar-se-lo-ne” (since 2007); B. Sa-no-go - in “Ver-de-re” (Bre-men, since 2007), etc. Goalkeeper A. Gua-me-not teaching in 7 roses -gry-shah Kub-ka Af-ri-ki.

Education. Uch-re-zh-de-nii science of culture

Management of educational institutions is implemented by the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Information -follow-up. The network of pre-school educational institutions is weak; they mainly function in large cities. The education system includes (2008) mandatory free 6-year initial training for children from 6 years of age, 7-year-old secondary (4-year-old incomplete and 3-year-old full) education -va-nie in state and non-state-state educational institutions (colleges and lyceums), vocational and technical education (on the basis of primary and junior high schools) in educational and technical centers -nic lyceums, higher professional education. 3% of children are in pre-school education, 71% are in primary education, 32% are in secondary education. %. The literacy rate of the population at the age of 15 years and older is 62.1% (2006). The system of higher professional education includes: University of Co-co-di, University d'Abobo-Adja-me (both in Abid-ja-ne ); University of Bouaké - all universities were founded in 1995 from the National University (founded in 1958 as the Center for Higher Education in Abidja -not), National Polytechnic Institute (1996) in Yamu-suk-ro, National School of Management (1960), Higher National School of Fine Arts arts (1963) - both in Abidzhan; National Engineering School (1963), Higher Ag-ro-no-mic school (1996) - both in Yamu-suk-ro. The main museums, libraries, scientific institutions are located in Abid-zhan, Bua-ka, Ko-ro-go.

Mass media

Leading periodical publications: daily government newspapers “Fraternité Matin” (published since 1964, circulation 25 thousand copies), “Ivoir' Soir” (since 1987, 10 thousand copies); monthly government newsletter “Journal Officiel de la République de Côte d’Ivoire” (since 1958, 25 thousand copies); daily independent newspapers “Le Jour” (since 1994), “Le Patriote” (since 1991), “La Nouvelle République”, “Notre Voie”; monthly “Eburnéa” (since 1967) (all in the city of Abid-zhan, in French) and others. Radio broadcasting since 1949 (since 1951 re-gular-but), those -le-vi-de-nie since 1963. Trans-la-tion of tele- and radio-pe-re-dach (in French and local languages) is carried out by the public service “Ra- diodiffusion-Télévision Ivoirienne" and others. National information agency - Agence Ivoi-rienne de Presse (AIP; created in 1961).

Literature

Li-te-ra-tu-ra of Côte d'Ivoire raz-vi-va-et-sya in French. In the 1930s, national drama-tur-gy was born. In 1938, the “Terrestrial Theatre” was created, where there were plays of old, historical, and also under mav-shie of the co-lo-ni-al-noy ex-plua-ta-tion (creativity of B.B. Da-dier, F.J. Amo-na d'Abi, etc. .). In 1952, the People's Academy of Literature and Poetry was established, in 1962 - the national Association of Pi-sa-te-ley, pi-shu-shchih on French language. The flourishing of drama-tur-gy began after the ob-re-te-niya of non-vi-si-mo-sti. In the 1960-1970s, heroic drama appeared. The influence of the French class-si-tsiz-ma from-me-che-on di-lo-giya E. Der-ve-na: dramas “Sa-ran, or Crime-ro-ro” -le-va", in which the image of the wise African pra-vi-te-la, po-li-ti-ka and half-ko-vod-tsa was created, and " Language and skor-pi-on" (both 1968). Sh. No-kan in the play “Go-re-sti Cha-ko” (1968) made a pro-ble-mu of power and na-ro-da; based on the so-tsi-al-no-utopian plays “Ab-raa Po-ku, or Great-kaya af-ri-kan-ka” (1970) in lo- lived le-gen-du about pro-is-ho-zh-de-niy na-ro-da bau-le. The struggle of the African peoples against the co-lo-for-the-ditch found its origin in the same stories that tend to be epic dramas “Be-at-ri-che from Kon-go” (1970) and “Island-ro-va boo-ri” (1973) Yes-dier, with creativity ko-ro -th in connection with the sa-ti-ric comedy (“Gos-po-din To-go-Nyi-ni”, 1970; “Mua -Sel", 1979). Hero-za-tion is-to-rich. past - based on the play “So-fa” by B. Za-di Za-uru (1975).

Poetry and pro-za began to develop in the 1950s. A vivid example of revolutionary an-ti-ko-lo-ni-al-noy poetry: the collections “Af-ri-ka in full height” (1950), “People all kon-ti-nen-tov” (1967) B.B. Da-dieu; “A stern call for de-zh-dy” Zh.M. Bon-i-ni (1961). In the 1970s, in poetry, the ten-den-tion of ro-man-ti-za-tion of the past Af-ri-ki (creativity of B. Za-di Za-uru, A. Ka-nie). The name Da-dieu is also associated with the creation of new prose: the collection “Af-ri-Can-kan legends” (1954), a book of folk tales -lor-no-os-no-ve “Black Elm-ka” (1955); auto-bio-graphic novel “Clem-bier” (1956) and others. The theme of the collapse of the illusions of “a man of two cultures” dis- roof in ro-ma-ne “Ko-kum-bo - black student” by A. Lo-by (1960). Ost-ro-toy an-ti-ko-lo-ni-al-no-go pa-fo-sa, ro-man-tic pa-fo-som, stylistic syn-cre-tiz-mom ( co-che-ta-nie li-riz-ma and pub-li-tsi-stich-no-sti) from-li-cha-yut-sya ro-ma-ny “For-ni-ma-et-sya black -y dawn" (1962) and "The wind was strong" (1966) by Sh. No-ka-na. In the 1970s, moral novels began to emerge, in which you came to the fore -traditional African values ​​are popular. In Rus-le neg-ri-tyu-da - ro-ma-ny “Youth from Bua-ke” by M. Ko-ne (1963), “Uaz-zi” by J. Do-do, “Mas- se-ni” by T. De-ma, “Us-mi-ren-nyy under-zhi-ga-tel” by P. du Prey (all - 1977). “Black” life, an image of the gloomy phenomena of traditional African so-ciu-ma (magic, co-culture) dov-st-vo, secret societies-st-va) ha-rak-ter-no for ro-ma-na “U po-ro-ga ir-re-al-no-go” A. Ko -not (1976). In the in-tel-lek-tu-al-nom ro-ma-not-parable “Personal satisfaction” by J.M. Ad-yaf-fi (1980) in a symbolic form you-ra-wives call to restore the established We are connected with the spiritual and cultural heritage of our ancestors. In the same way you-so-ko-hu-do-same-st-ven-no-go sin-te-za in-di-vi-du-al-no-av-tor-sko-go-iro- nic style, elements of the oral tradition of the na-ro-da Ma-lin-ke and modern novel technology have become creative A. Ku-ru-we (“Mon-ne, or Uni-wives bro-sa-yut challenge”, 1990; “Waiting for the go-lo-so-va-niya di- some animals”, 1998, etc.).

Ar-hi-tech-tu-ra and artistic-bra-zi-tel-art

People in the southern, forested part of the country build rectangular dwellings with a roof made of palm branches. Among the Bau-le and Anya people, oval in plan-not-ma-ok-ru-zhe-ny on-weight. On the se-ve-ro-behind-the-pas-de-de the races-about-countries are round-ly in the plan of houses with ko-nich. so-lo-men-ny-mi roof-sha-mi. This type of living in the eastern part of the country replaces the clay-but-bit-with-straight-coal-with-the-plan-not-to-ma-mi with a flat roof. In the central part of Côte d'Ivoire, houses have a rectangular plan with rounded ends and are divided into 3-4 by location. The walls of the houses are often painted with geo-metrical or-na-men, fig-gu-ra-mi of people and animals.

After the proclamation of non-vi-si-mo-sti, 1-4-storey residential buildings began to be erected; multi-storey buildings are being built, enclosing a shopping center, a hotel, in the lower part, res-to-ra-ny and kor-pu-sa apartment or office: center “Nur al-Kha-yat” (ar-hi-tek-to-ry A. La-zhe, Zh.P. Lu-pi, J. Mahe), office complex “La Pi-ra-mid” with aluminum trim (architect R. Oliv-e-ri, engineer R. Mo-ran-di; both - in Abid-zhan, 1960-1970s), air port near Abid-zhan (1969, art-hi-tech-to-ry M. Du -charm, J. More-ro, J.P. Mi-no), hotel "Cas-ka-dy" in Ma-ne (1969, Du-charme, K. Lar-ra, Mi-no); SCIAM administrative building in Abidjan (1975, J. Se-mi-chon) in the international style. Some hotels (in Sa-san-d-re, architect Be-nua-Bar-ne; in Asi-ni, ar-hi-tek-to-ry J. Se-mi- Sean, L. Renar, A.K. Vi) sti-li-zo-va-ny under h-zhi-ny with so-lo-men-my roofs. Cultural centers and covered markets have been created in Abid-zhan and Bouah-ka. In construction, iron-concrete and glass are used, for industrial work they involve all local re-mes-len-ni-ki. In the 1970s, O.K. Ka-ku-bom developed a general plan for the city of Yamu-suk-ro and built a complex of public buildings in the forms of bru-ta-liz- ma: Palace of Con-gress, Palace of Pre-zi-den-ta, Hotel "Pre-zi-dent", buildings of the mayor's office and Fond Houphouet-Bu-a-nyi. In the 1980s, there was a ka-to-lich. temples: the Cathedral of St. Paul in Abi-ja-n (1985, architect A. Spi-ri-to) with elements of the stmo-der-niz-ma, Grand Di-Oz Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Paix in Yamu-sous-cro (1986-1989, architect P. Fa-hu-ri; building re- there is a com-po-zi-tion of the co-bo-ra of St. Peter in Va-ti-ka-ne); both co-or-u-zhe-niya formalized the vit-ra-zha-mi.

Painting as an independent art form emerged in Côte d'Ivoire only in the 1960s. Among the hu-dozh-ni-kov of this pe-rio-da - M. Ko-dio and E. J. San-to-ni; both received education in France. In the 1980s-1990s, Ya. Bat became famous, in the work of some techniques we ab-st-rac-cio- niz-ma co-che-ta-ut-sya with the local or-na-mental-tra-di-tsi-ey. A special place in artistic life for-no-ma-yut pre-sta-vi-te-li on-iv-no-go art-kus-st-va (Z. Mak-re, F. Bru-li-Bu-ab-re), continuing re-monthly tradition from the preparation of you-ve-juice. The most well-known sculptor is K. Lattier, who worked in France and at home; creates a pro-iz-ve-de-niya from metal-la, ele-men-tov kor-zi-noch-no-go weaving, ve-re-wok and fabric . Ceramic sculpture in the spirit of traditions of bau-le for the design of architectural structures for S. Do -guo Yao; K. Mu-ru-fier also works in this genre. Once you carve according to de-re-vu (masks, fi-gur-ki people), processing of gold, bronze and copper, weaving. In the district of Ka-tio-la with-en-to-che-but about-from-pottery-de-li, the district Se-ge-la knows-men-nit graceful -ny-mi with-court-mi “ka-na-ri”, in the region of Ko-ro-go from-go-to-la-yut spher-rich. pots and huge re-zer-voirs for grain. Raz-vi-va-et-sya tradits. ros-pisti do-mov.

Musical kul-tu-ra ti-pich-na for Western Africa; pre-sta-le-na professional tra-di-tsiya-mi dan, ma-lin-ke (group-pa man-din-go), bau-le, ve (group-pa cru), se-nu-fo . Given the music, you are in the most independent branch of traditional culture, its connection has been preserved to a significant degree with cultural practice (the origin of music’s connection with the world of spirits; in magical settings -lyakh use-use-use-sha-ha-sha-ha-sha-los-masks-ki-beg-bo). Professional music-can-you are involved in the association, the specialization is carried forward -st-vu; now-you-not-so-tse-nit-sia mas-ter-st-vo singers-im-pro-vi-za-to-rov (solo-singing with-pro-vo- w-yes-sya playing the ar-fe, la-mel-la-fo-ne). Mu-zy-ka is a non-absent part of the rites of initiation, rites that precede the hunt, etc. Game on ba-ra-ba-nah co-pro-vo-zh-da-et labor de-st-viya of the land-dealers, co-stu-za-nia in the struggle and tan -tsy. A cast of professional singers and mu-zy-kan-tov at ma-lin-ke - dzhe-li (grio-you; ak-kom-pa-ni-ru-yut se-be on ko-re, xi -lo-fo-ne, ar-fe, etc.); among the society's significant functions, they are on the way to the war and their glorification. You have a high status in professional music and in society. life of bau-le: songs are ras-pro-country in honor of the deities and spirits of the ancestors; in judicial practice, ba-ra-ba-ns are used, which are considered in the middle -Where are the people and the spirits of the ancestors; on society co-b-ra-ni-yah in co-pro-vo-zh-de-nii ba-ra-ba-nov and signal idio-phones ras-pe-va-yut po-ethical tech -sts and words. For bau-le ha-rak-ter-no two-go-lo-sie (singing and playing the instruments-ment-tah pa-ral-lel-ny-mi ter-tsiya-mi). We use the so-called signal function. speaking ba-ra-ba-ny, on them the same songs of praise are sung for the warriors and for us. Se-nu-fo kas-you mu-zy-kan-tov from-sut-st-vu-yut, but mu-zy-ka has a great meaning in the rituals of the husband - and women's secret societies; especially-ben-but in-the-res-ny songs-nor-row-dov-initiation-tions, which-with-pro-in-yes-there-are large-shi-mi in -st-ru-men-tal-ny-mi an-samb-la-mi. In the cities of the race-countries there are up-to-su-go-new forms of mu-zi-tsi-ro-va-niya. Music the formation and study of traditional music from the environment in Abidzhan.

Te-atr, ta-nets

The national the-at-ral-naya tradition takes on-cha-lo in the art of griots. In 1938, you-pu-sk-ni-ki school U. Pon-ti (Da-kar) or-ga-ni-zo-va-li in Abid-zhan “Tu-earthly te- atr”, paying special attention to the play itself, on the right-len-nim against the shar-la-tan-st-va kol-du-nov (“Bus-sa- tier, or the Secret of the black count" F. J. Amon d'Abi, 1939, etc.). In the early 1940s, the sa-ti-ritic style of G. Kof-fi (one of the founders of the African theater) appeared his own plays - “Our Wives” (1940) and “My Husband” (1941); in 1943, he staged his anti-ti-ko-lo-ni-al-ny play “The Song Returns.” In 1953, the “Terrestrial Theatre” was transformed into the “Cultural and Folklore Circle”, which became a prominent place -one hundred in the cultural life of all Western Africa. Re-per-tu-ar included plays of would-be and historical co-containment (including “Ko-ro-na with auk-tsio- na" Amo-na d'Abi, "Ia-on-da" Kof-fi, "Pri-klu-che-niya go-zy" D. Ma-ha-ma-na). In 1958, under the leadership of K. Ngua-na, there was an os-no-va-no Te-at-ral society of Be-re-ga Slo-no-voy Kos-ti. At this time, there were a wide variety of plays by local drama-tourists (“Rural Kol-du-nya” by M. Ber-te, “Ter- mi-you" E. Der-ve-na, etc.). Used the troupe of the Abid-zhan University “Masks and ba-la-fo-ny”. In 1959, the School of Dramatic Art was opened in Abi-d-ja-na, which was subsequently transformed into a theater theater school at the National Institute of Arts (established in 1967). Amongst means. spec-so-lay this period: “Three pre-ten-den-ta, one husband” G. Oi-o-no Mbia (1968), “Gos-po-din To-go- Nyi-ni" by B. B. Da-dier (1970), "Tus-sio" by G. De-man-Go (1971). In 1971, the comedy “Re-visor” by N.V. was staged on the Abidzhan stage. Go-go-la. In the 1980s - early 2000s, the novels of the playwright and director M. Ekissi (“The Time of Red Ber-res,” 1988; “Tra -ge-dia ko-ro-la Kri-sto-fa", 1993; "Heavy holiday", 1999; "My name is Bra-hi-ma", 2001) . One of the largest theater figures in Côte d'Ivoire at the beginning of the 21st century is actor and director S. Ba-ka-ba. Since 1993, every 2 years in Côte d'Ioire there has been an International Festival of Arts.

Especially-ben-but-popular-ny in Côte d’Ivoire os-no-van-nye on folk-lo-re dance-tse-val-nye-sta-new-ki. In 1974, the National Basilica of Côte d'Ivoire was created in Abidja. The most famous dance collections: “Mant-che” (1998), “Ji-giya” (1999), “Dan-kan” (2006), “1 So-mni-ak” (2008). Among the is-pol-ni-te-lei (early 2000s) - A.B. Bam-ba, A. Dra-me, K. Ma-ma-di.

The za-ro-zh-de-nie of the national ki-ne-ma-to-gra-fa is connected with the name of T. Ba-so-ri, who removed the co- mouth-to-met-raz-nye films “On the dunes of one-no-che-st-va”, “The sixth bo-rose-da”, “Fire in the timber”, etc. He In 1969, he released the first national full-length film, “A Woman with a Knife,” which raised questions with -no-she-niya afr. and zap. tsi-vi-li-za-tsi. In the 1970s, the problems of national action were found in the films “Amanye” and “Hat” "R. M'Bala and "The Cry of Mu-ed-zi-na" by E. N'Da-bi-ana Wo-dio. In the 1980s, the films “The Man from Da-le-ka” by M. Trao-te and “Jel-li” by K. Lan-si-ke Fe-di were released in the country -ke, “An-zha-Tio” by J.L. Ku-la, “Da-lo-kan” by M. Do-sa, “Tse-li-te-li” by S. Ba-ka-by. In 1983, the film “Pe-tan-ki” by I. Ko-zo-loa (together with Ni-ge-ri-ey) was released. “Ex-zo-ti-che-skaya-ko-media” by K. Tu-re (1985) - about the life of a traditional film - aroused significant audience interest -sche-st-va se-nu-fo. The most-of-the-west-ny-mi ki-ne-ma-to-gra-fi-sta-mi are the re-zhis-syo-ry D. Eka-re (“Con- concert for iz-gnan-ni-ka", 1968; "France for the two of us", 1970; "Faces of women", 1985) and A. Du-parc ("Mu- na, or the Dream of the Hu-dozh-ni-ka", 1969; "Family", 1972; "Wild Grass", 1977; "I Chose Life", 1987; “Ball in the dusty region”, 1988; “Sixth finger”, 1990; “Fairy color”, 1998), which are in their -their work is ak-tu-al moral and social themes and we are drawn to the genre of tragic media. In 1974, the Association of professional ki-no-dea-te-lei of Cote d'Ivoire was formed (included in the Pan-af-ri-kan-skaya fe-de-ra-tion ki-ne-ma-to-gra-fi-stov). Since 1969, Côte d'Ivoire films have been studying at the All-Af-ri-kan-skiy ki-no-fes-ti-va-le (FESPACO) in Ua-ga-dou.

Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. State in West Africa. Capital - Yamoussoukro (approx. 120 thousand people - 2003). Territory - 322.46 thousand sq. km. Administrative division - 18 regions. Population - 21 million 058 thousand 798 people (2010 estimate) Official language - French Religion - traditional African beliefs, Islam and Christianity Currency - CFA franc National holiday - August 7 - Independence Day (1960). "Ivoire has been a member of the UN since 1960, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963 and the African Union (AU) since 2002, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975, the Economic and Monetary Union of West African States (EMUA) since 1962 and the Common Afro-Mauritian Organization (OCAM) since 1965.

State flag. A rectangular panel on which there are three vertical stripes of the same size in orange, white and green (the white stripe is in the center).

Geographical location and boundaries.

A continental state in southern West Africa. It borders in the west with Guinea and Liberia, in the north with Burkina Faso and Mali, in the east with Ghana, the southern coast of the country is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Guinea. The length of the coastline is 550 km.

Nature.


Most of the territory is occupied by hilly plains, turning into a plateau in the north more than 400 m above sea level. In the northwest are the large Dan and Tura mountain ranges with deep gorges. The highest point is Mount Nimba (1752 m). Minerals - diamonds, bauxite, iron, gold, manganese, petroleum, nickel, natural gas and titanium. The climate of the northern and central regions is subequatorial dry, and the southern ones are equatorial humid. The zones of these climates differ mainly in the amount of precipitation. The average annual air temperature is +26° (Celsius). Average annual precipitation is 1300-2300 mm per year on the coast, 2100-2300 mm in the mountains and 1100-1800 mm in the north. Dense river network: the rivers Bandama, Dodo, Cavalli, Comoe, Nero, Sassandra, etc., which are unnavigable due to the presence of rapids (except for the Cavalli River). The largest river is Bandama (950 km). Lakes - Warapa, Dadier, Dalaba, Labion, Lupongo, etc. Cote d'Ivoire is one of 12 African countries that meet the population's needs for clean drinking water.

The southern regions are covered with evergreen equatorial forests (African lofira, iroko, red Bassam tree, niangon, ebony, etc.), in the north there are forest savannas with gallery forests along river banks and tall grass savannas. Due to deforestation (in order to expand arable land and export timber), their area decreased from 15 million hectares in the beginning. 20th century up to 1 million hectares in 1990. Fauna - antelopes, hippopotamuses, buffalos, cheetahs, hyenas, wild boars, leopards, lions, monkeys, panthers, elephants, jackals, etc. Many birds, snakes and insects. The tsetse fly is widespread. In coastal waters there is a lot of shrimp and fish (sardine, mackerel, tuna, eel, etc.).

Population.

The average annual population growth is 2.105%. The birth rate is 39.64 per 1000 people, the mortality rate is 18.48 per 1000 people. Infant mortality is 66.43 per 1000 births. 40.6% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age account for 2.9%. Life expectancy is 56.19 years (55.27 for men and 57.13 years for women). (All figures are as of 2010).

Citizens of Côte d'Ivoire are called Ivorians. The country is inhabited by more than 60 African peoples and ethnic groups: Baule, Agni, Bakwe, Bambara, Bete, Guere, Dan (or Yacouba), Kulango, Malinke, Mosi, Lobi, Senufo, Tura, Fulbe etc. The non-African population in 1998 was 2.8% (130 thousand people Lebanese and Syrians, as well as 14 thousand French). Of the local languages, the most common languages ​​are Ani and Baule. About 25% of the population are immigrants who came to earnings from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Senegal. In the late 1990s, the government began to tighten immigration policies. As a result of a military coup and the outbreak of civil war, most immigrants became refugees and internally displaced persons. According to UN estimates, 600 thousand residents of Cote d'Ivoire fled to neighboring African states (the contingent of Ivorian refugees in Liberia in 2003 numbered 25 thousand people). OK. 50% of the population live in cities: Abidjan (3.1 million people - 2001), Agboville, Bouaké, Korhogo, Bundiali, Man, etc. In April 1983, the capital was moved to Yamoussoukro, however, Abidjan continues remain the political, business and cultural center of the country.

State structure.

Republic. The first constitution of an independent country was adopted in 1960. The constitution approved by a referendum on July 23, 2000 is in force. The head of state is the president, who is elected on the basis of universal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. He may hold office for no more than two five-year terms. Legislative power belongs to the president and the single-seat parliament (National Assembly). Members of Parliament are elected by universal direct and secret suffrage for five years.

Judicial system.

All administrative, civil, commercial and criminal cases are heard in the courts of first instance. A military tribunal was created in 1973. The highest body of judicial power is the Supreme Court.

Defense.

The national army was formed in 1961. In August 2002, the armed forces of Côte d'Ivoire consisted of ground forces (6.5 thousand people), air force (700 people), navy (900 people), paramilitary presidential guard (1,350 people) and a 10,000-strong contingent of reservists. Gendarmerie units numbered 7.6 thousand people, police - 1.5 thousand people. Compulsory military service was introduced in December 2001. In 1996, with the assistance of France, a center was opened in the country military training. In July 2004, 4 thousand French army troops were in the buffer zone between government troops and rebel forces (by decision of the UN, they will remain there until the 2005 elections). France supplies Côte d'Ivoire with equipment and assists in the military training of its units army.

Foreign policy.

Bilateral ties with France occupy an important place (diplomatic relations were established in 1961). She is the main trading partner of Cote d'Ivoire, she plays a primary role in resolving the political crisis of 1999-2003. Cote d'Ivoire became the first African country to establish diplomatic relations with South Africa (1992), one of the first in Africa to establish them with Israel. Interstate relations with Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Niger and other countries are complicated due to the refugee problem.

Diplomatic relations with the USSR were established in January 1967. In May 1969 they were severed on the initiative of the government of Cote d'Ivoire without an official explanation of the reasons. Diplomatic relations were restored on February 20, 1986. In 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. New agreements are being prepared in the field of improving contractual relations -legal basis for bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and Cote d'Ivoire.

Economy.

It is based on a private form of ownership. Most mixed enterprises are under the control of foreign capital (mainly French). Cote d'Ivoire is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of Robusta coffee and cocoa beans. Since the 1960s, it has become the largest producer of palm oil among African states, and is in fifth place in the world in its exports (300 thousand tons annually).The country's economy was seriously affected by the consequences of the military coup: the GDP growth rate in 2000 was minus 0.3%, in 2003 - minus 1.9%.Inflation in 2003 was 4.1%.

Agriculture.

Cote d'Ivoire is a country with developed commercial agriculture. The share of agricultural products in GDP is 29% (2001). The area of ​​cultivated land is 9.28%, irrigated - 730 sq. km. (1998). Pineapples, bananas, sweet potatoes are grown , cocoa beans, coconuts, coffee, corn, cassava (cassava), millet, rice, sugar cane, sorghum, taro, cotton and yams Livestock (cows, goats, sheep, pigs) and poultry due to fly spread Tsetse is developed only in the northern regions. 65-70 thousand tons of fish are caught annually. Côte d'Ivoire is one of the major suppliers of timber and timber of their valuable tropical species.

Industry.

The share of industrial products in GDP is 22% (2001). The mining industry is poorly developed. Diamond production in 1998 amounted to 15 thousand carats, gold - 3.4 tons. The manufacturing industry accounts for approx. 13% of GDP (agricultural processing enterprises (including the production of palm oil and rubber), wood and metal processing plants, shoe and textile factories, as well as chemical industry enterprises). In con. In the 1990s, Cote d'Ivoire was in fourth place in the world in the development of the cocoa bean processing industry (225 thousand tons annually). Local production of consumer goods was well established.

Energy.

In 2001, 61.9% of electricity was generated at thermal power plants, 38.1% - at hydroelectric power stations (Ayame, on the Belaya Bandama River, in Taabo). Cote d'Ivoire exports electricity to neighboring countries (1.3 billion kW - 2001). Oil production is underway (1027 thousand tons - 1997).

Transport.

The total length of railways is 660 km, roads - 68 thousand km (6 thousand km have a hard surface, most of the roads are laid in the south) - 2002. The main seaports are Abidjan and San Pedro. In 2003, there were 37 airports and airstrips (7 paved). International airports are located in the cities of Abidjan, Bouaké and Yamoussoukro.

International trade.

Cote d'Ivoire is one of the few African countries whose foreign trade balance is dominated by exports. In 2003, exports amounted to $5.29 billion and imports amounted to $2.78 million. Main export products: coffee , cocoa beans, petroleum, construction timber and timber, cotton, bananas, palm oil, fish Main export partners: France (13.7%), Netherlands (12.2%), USA (7.2%), Germany (5.3%), Mali (4.4%), Belgium (4.2%), Spain (4.1%) - 2002. Main imports - petroleum products, equipment, food. Main import partners: France (22.4%), Nigeria (16.3%), China (7.8%), and Italy (4.1%) - 2002.

Finance and credit.

The monetary unit is the CFA franc, consisting of 100 centimes. In December 2003, the national currency exchange rate was: 1 dollar. US = 581.2 CFA francs.
Administrative device.

The country is divided into 18 regions, which consist of 57 departments.

Political organizations.

A multi-party system emerged: in 2000 there were 90 political parties and associations. The most influential of them: Ivorian Popular Front, FPI (Front populaire ivoirien, FPI). The ruling party. Founded in 1983 in France, legalized in 1990. Chairman - Affi N'Gessan, Secretary General - Sylvain Miaka Oureto; Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire, DPCI (Parti démocratigue de la Côte d'Ivoire, PDCI). The party was founded in 1946 as a local section of the Democratic Rally of Africa (DRA). Leader - Henri Konan Bedié; Ivorian Workers' Party, PIT (Parti ivoirien des travailleurs, PIT). The Social Democratic Party became legal in 1990. General Secretary - Francis Wodié; Rassemblement des républicais (Rassemblement des républicais). The party was founded in 1994 as a result of a split in the DPKI. Influential in northern Muslim areas. Leader - Alassane Dramme Ouattara, Secretary General - Henriette Dagba Diabaté; Union for Democracy and Peace of Côte d'Ivoire, SDMCI (Union pour la democratie et pour la paix de la Côte d'Ivoire, UDPCI). Founded in 2001 as a result of a split in the DPKI. Leader - Paul Akoto Yao.

P trade union associations.

General Union of Workers of Côte d'Ivoire (Union générale des travailleurs de Côte d'Ivoire, UGTCI). Created in 1962, has 100 thousand members. The General Secretary is Adiko Niamkey.

Religions.

55% of the indigenous population adhere to traditional beliefs and cults (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors and forces of nature, etc.), 25% are Muslims (mostly Sunnis), Christianity is professed by 20% of the population (Catholics - 85%, Protestants - 15%) - 1999. (The number of Muslims is much larger as they constitute the majority of illegal foreign workers. Muslims live mainly in the northern regions of the country). There are several Afro-Christian churches. The spread of Christianity began at the end. 19th century

Education.

Primary education is compulsory (6 years), which children receive from the age of six. Secondary education (7 years) begins at the age of 12 and takes place in two cycles. In the 1970s, television teaching was widespread in primary and some secondary schools. A network of educational institutions providing vocational and technical education has been created. The higher education system includes three universities and eight colleges. In 2000, 45 thousand students studied and 990 teachers worked at twelve faculties and departments of the national university in Abidjan (founded in 1964). Training is conducted in French. Education in state educational institutions is free. In 2004, 42.48% of the population was literate (40.27% of men and 44.76% of women).

Healthcare.

Tropical diseases are widespread - bilharziosis, yellow fever, malaria, “sleeping sickness”, schistomatosis, etc. A serious disease called “river blindness” is common in river valleys. The rate of leprosy (leprosy) is one of the highest in West Africa. The problem of AIDS is acute. In 1988, 250 people died from it, in 2001 - 75 thousand people, there were 770 thousand HIV-infected people. On Wednesday In the 1990s, national broadcasting began broadcasting a special awareness-raising program, “Talking Drum,” dedicated to AIDS issues. In con. In the 1980s, the United States opened a research center in Abidjan to study and control this disease.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.

Published in French: daily newspapers "Ivoir-soir" ("Ivoire-evening") and "Voi" (La Voie - "The Path", the printed organ of the INF), weekly newspapers "Lingerie" (Le Bélier - " Aries"), "Democrat" (Le Démocrate - "Democrat", printed organ of the DPKI), "Nouvel horizon" (Le Nouvel horizon - "New Horizon", printed organ of the INF) and "Jeune democrat" (Le Jeune démocrate - "Young democrat"), the weekly "Abidjan set jours" (Abidjan 7 jours - "Abidjan for the week"), the monthly newspaper "Alif" (Alif), covering the problems of Islam, the monthly magazine "Eburnéa", etc. The government news agency is the Ivorian Press Agency, AIP (Agence ivoirienne de presse, AIP). Created in 1961. The government service Ivorian Broadcasting and Television was founded in 1963. The AIP and service are located in Abidjan. 9 thousand Internet users (2002).

Tourism.

The country has a whole range of necessary conditions for the development of the tourism industry: a favorable climate, a variety of rich flora and fauna, beautiful sandy beaches on the Gulf of Guinea coast and the original culture of local peoples. The active development of the tourism industry began with the implementation in 1970 of a special program designed to last until 1980 (22% of capital investments were foreign investments). Eight tourist zones were identified, on the territory of which by the end of the 1980s more than 170 hotels of various classes were built. In the 1990s, the fashionable, ultra-modern Golf and Ivoire hotels were built in Abidjan, equipped with golf courses and ice tracks. Until 1997, income from the tourism business annually amounted to approx. $140 million. In 1998, 301 thousand foreign tourists visited the country. In 1997, 15 travel agencies were successfully operating on the market, many of which were also involved in organizing business tourism.

Attractions in Abidjan: National Museum (traditional arts and crafts are presented, including a rich collection of masks), Chardy Art Gallery. Other attractions are the Comoe National Park, the famous Gbon Coulibaly Museum in Korhogo (pottery, blacksmith and wood crafts), picturesque mountain landscapes in the Man area, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace (very reminiscent of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome) in Yamoussoukro, waterfall Mont Tonqui. Tai National Park (in the southwest), with a large number of endemic plants, is included in the UN category of world heritage. National cuisine - "atyeke" (a dish made from cassava, with fish or meat sauce), "kejena" (fried chicken with rice and vegetables), "fufu" (dough balls made from yams, cassava or bananas, served to fish or meat with the addition of sauces).

Architecture.

The architectural forms of traditional housing are varied: in the south - rectangular or square wooden houses with a gable roof made of palm leaves; in the central regions, adobe houses of rectangular shape (sometimes rounded corners) under a flat roof, divided into several rooms, are common; in the east - rectangular shapes with flat roofs, and in other areas the houses are round or oval in plan, the thatched roof has a conical shape. The outside of adobe houses is often covered with designs of geometric shapes, birds, real and mystical animals, which are done with yellow, red and black paints. Fashionable hotels and supermarkets made of reinforced concrete structures and glass have become a hallmark of modern cities.

Fine arts and crafts.


Wooden sculpture, especially masks, occupies an important place in traditional Ivorian culture. The ritual masks of the Senufo people are especially diverse. Among the Dan and Gere peoples there are masks with a movable jaw. Art historians consider the wooden sculpture of the Baule people to be the best example of African round sculpture of a non-cult nature. In addition to traditional figurines depicting ancestors, animals and various patron spirits, Baule craftsmen make small toy figures for children. The clay funeral figurines of the Anya people are interesting. Artistic folk crafts are well developed: weaving baskets and mats from ropes, straw and reeds, pottery (making household utensils and interior decoration items), painting the outside of houses, making jewelry from bronze, gold and copper, as well as weaving. The production of batik is developed - original paintings on fabrics depicting animals or plant patterns. Batiks of the Senufo people are presented in many museums around the world. Professional fine art began to develop after independence. Outside the country, the name of the artist Kadjo Zdeims Hura is well known. In 1983, the National Association of Artists organized the first professional exhibition of Ivorian painters, in which more than 40 artists took part.

Literature.

Modern literature is based on the traditions of oral folk art and develops mainly in French. Its formation is associated with national drama. The most important of the writers is considered to be the poet, prose writer and playwright Bernard Dadier. Writers - M. Asamua, E. Dekran, S. Dembele, B. Z. Zauru, M. Kone, A. Loba, S. Z. Nokan and others. In 2000, the last novel (“Allah is not obligated”) by the famous writer was published Amadou Kuruma (died in France in December 2003). His first novel, Independence Sun (1970), is included in the curricula of many African, American and European universities. The most famous poets are F. Amua, G. Anala, D. Bamba, J-M. Bognini, J. Dodo and B. Z. Zauru.

Music and theater.

The art of music and dance has long traditions and is an important part of the culture of the peoples of Cote d'Ivoire. Common musical instruments include balafons, tom-tom drums, guitars, kora (xylophone), rattles, horns, unique harps and lutes, rattles, trumpets and flutes. Choral singing is accompanied by original dances. Interesting are the ritual dances of the Baule people, the Ge-gblin (“people on stilts”) dance of the Dan people, as well as the Kinyon-pli (harvest dance). In the 1970s-1980s, the National Ballet Troupe of Folklore Dance was created and the group “Gyula.” At the All-African Music Festival, held in 2000 in Sun City (South Africa), the famous Ivorian musician Vanamh received one of the awards.

The development of theatrical art began with the creation of amateur school groups in the 1930s. In 1938, the so-called Native Theater was created in Abidjan. After independence, a professional theater school was created at the National Institute of Arts, where actors from France taught. Plays by French and Ivorian authors were staged. The play “Tunyantigi” (“Speaker of the Truth”) by local writer A. Kuruma was popular. In the 1980s, the Koteba theater troupe was especially popular.

Cinema.

Developed since the 1960s. The first film - On the Dunes of Solitude - was shot by director T. Basori in 1963. In 1974, the Association of Professional Cinematographers was created. In 1993, Ivorian director Adama Rouamba made the film In the Name of Christ. In 2001, the film Adanggaman by the famous Ivorian director Roger Gnoan M'Bala (about the problems of slavery) and the film Skins of the Bronx (about life in Abidjan) by the French director Eliard Delatour, living in Cote d'Ivoire, were released.

Story.

Pre-colonial period.

The modern territory of Côte d'Ivoire was inhabited by pygmies at the beginning of the Stone Age. From the 1st millennium AD, other peoples began to penetrate from the west through several migration flows. The first settlers were the Senufo, who gradually began to become involved in agriculture. The settlement process , which lasted for several centuries almost until the beginning of the colonial conquest, was largely associated with the slave trade in the coastal regions of the Gold Coast (modern Ghana), from which local residents fled.

Colonial period.

Europeans (Portuguese, English, Danes and Dutch) landed on the coast of what is now Côte d'Ivoire in the late 15th century. Colonization began in 1637 with French missionaries. Economic development began in the 1840s: French colonists mined gold, harvested and exported tropical wood, plantations of coffee imported from Liberia were established.On March 10, 1893, the Ivory Coast was officially declared a colony of France, and from 1895 included in French West Africa (FWA).The local population offered active resistance to the colonialists (Agny uprisings in 1894-1895, Guro in 1912 -1913, etc.). It intensified during the First World War due to forced recruitment into the French army. During the interwar period, the colony became a major producer of coffee, cocoa beans and tropical timber. In 1934, Abidjan became its administrative center. The first batch of African population - the Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast (DP BC) - created in 1945 on the basis of unions of local farmers.It became the territorial section of the DOA (Democratic Rally of Africa) - the general political organization of the FZA, headed by the African planter Felix Houphouet-Boigny. Under the influence of the national liberation movement, France in 1957 granted the BSC the right to create a territorial legislative assembly (parliament). In 1957 BSK received the status of an autonomous republic. After the elections to the legislative assembly (April 1959), a government was formed headed by F. Houphouet-Boigny.

Period of independent development.

Independence was proclaimed on August 7, 1960. F. Houphouët-Boigny became the President of the Republic of Ivory Coast (IIC). The policy of economic liberalism was proclaimed, which was based on
inviolability of private property. DP BSK became the only ruling party. In the 1960-1980s, a distinctive feature of the country's development was high rates of economic growth (mainly due to the export of coffee and cocoa beans): in 1960-1970, GDP growth was 11%, in 1970-1980 - 6-7%. Per capita income in 1975 - 500 US dollars (in 1960 - 150 US dollars). In the 1980s, due to the fall in world prices for coffee and cocoa beans, an economic recession began. F. Houphouët-Boigny remained the permanent president. In October 1985, the country received the name "Republic of Côte d'Ivoire", DP BSK was renamed DPKI - "Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire". Under pressure from the social movement for democratic freedoms, a multi-party system was introduced in May 1990. F. Houphouët-Boigny won the 1990 presidential election. The main direction of economic policy in the 1990s was the expansion of privatization (more than 50 companies were privatized in 1994-1998). After the death of F. Houphouët-Boigny (1993), his successor Henri Conan Bedier (elected in 1995) became president. Until 1994, the economy was in decline due to the collapse of world prices for coffee and cocoa beans, rising oil prices, the severe drought of 1982-1983, the government's ill-considered spending of external loans, as well as cases of their direct theft. The government began to pursue a policy of encouraging foreign investment in the economy. In October 1995, the country hosted the “Invest in Côte d'Ivoire” forum, in which Russian companies participated among 350 foreign firms. In 1996, the “Mountain Forum” was held. GDP growth in 1998 was about 6% (1994 - 2.1%), the inflation rate in 1996-1997 was 3% (1994 - 32%).
A characteristic feature of the country's development in 1960-1999 was political stability. On Wednesday In the 1990s, there were more than 50 political parties. An amendment to the constitution (Article 35 - granting the right to be elected to government bodies only to persons who have Ivorian citizenship by birth, as a result of marriage or naturalization) did not allow the candidacy of Allassane Ouattara (a Burkinabe by birth) to be nominated for the post of president. He was nominated by the Rassemblement Republicans (RR) party and was a serious competitor to A. Konan Bedier, the only candidate in the upcoming presidential elections of 2000. Demonstrations of thousands organized by the opposition in September 1998 to protest against the discriminatory article of the constitution were accompanied by clashes with the police. Political tension intensified in October 1999 - mass demonstrations in support of A.D. Ouattara took place in the capital and other cities, and arrests of opposition activists began. They were supported by soldiers who were dissatisfied with the delay in paying them their salaries. The authorities underestimated the seriousness of the situation. The military performance was led by retired General Robert Gay. The rebels took control of all key services in the capital. It was announced that the constitution would be suspended, the current president would be removed, and the government and parliament would be dissolved. Power passed to the National Committee of Public Safety (NCOS), headed by R. Gay. The situation in the country was soon normalized. In January 2000, a transitional government was formed, in which General R. Gay took over as president of the republic and minister of defense.

In July 2000, a new constitution was approved by referendum and adopted (its 35th article remained unchanged). The presidential elections took place on October 22, 2000. The leader of the opposition Rally of Republicans, A. Ouattara, was again unable to stand as a candidate due to a discriminatory article in the constitution. The victory was won by the representative of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent Gbagbo (60% of the votes). The military regime was abolished. Parliamentary elections were held from December 10, 2000 to January 14, 2001. The FPI received 96 mandates, the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire - 94, independent candidates - 22. On September 19, 2002, a military mutiny was raised in the cities of Abidjan, Bouaké and Korhogo: 750 military personnel stormed government offices and residences of government members. In fact, this was an attempt at a coup d'etat, since President L. Gbagbo was at that time on an official visit to Italy. With the help of army units of ECOWAS member countries, the rebellion in Abidjan was suppressed. However, rebel groups managed to take control of all the northern, as well as part of the central and western regions. In some areas, clashes began on ethnic and religious grounds. Armed groups from Liberia and Sierra Leone took the side of the rebels, which strained interstate relations between Côte d'Ivoire and these countries.

In March 2003, a coalition government of national reconciliation was formed, which also included representatives of the opposition (since January 2003, the rebels began to call themselves “New Force”). The official end of the civil war was declared in July 2003, but the country remained split into two parts: the government-controlled south and the opposition-controlled north. At the end of February 2004, to help the government resolve the conflict, the UN Security Council sent a unit of 6,240 people to Côte d'Ivoire. Regular meetings of the coalition government were held until March 2004. Ministers representing the opposition announced a boycott of them after the security forces dispersed demonstrations organized by " New force" (there were casualties). Armed rebels continued to fully control the northern part of the country in July 2004. In the same month, parliament discussed a number of problems that the opposition demanded solutions, in particular the issue of land ownership in the northern regions. The President promised after the unification of the country hold a referendum on the issue of nationality. At the summit of 13 African countries held in late July and early August 2004 in Accra (Ghana), an agreement was reached between the Ivorian government and the rebels to resolve the internal conflict. The New Force has pledged to begin disarmament after October 15, 2004, the date of completion of political reforms agreed to in January 2003. But the issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and citizenship issues, remain unresolved.
On October 31 and November 28, 2010, the first presidential elections since 2000 were finally held in Côte d'Ivoire, which were postponed for almost a decade due to the civil war. A total of 14 candidates took part in the elections. None of the candidates managed to win an absolute majority of votes, and by law, the two candidates who received the most votes advanced to the second round.

Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, who received just over 38% of the vote and enjoyed the support of the south of the country, and the leader of the opposition, former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, who enjoyed the support of the population of the northern part of the country and received about 33% of the vote, advanced to the second round.
On December 2, 2010, preliminary voting results were announced, according to which A. Ouattara received 54% of the votes. But the constitutional council immediately called these results invalid. On December 3, Laurent Gbagbo was declared the winner. Alassane Ouattara also declared himself victorious and also took the presidential oath. The USA, France, the UN, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the European Union supported Ouattara. In response, Gbabgo ordered UN peacekeeping troops to leave the country. However, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire until June 30, 2011. The World Bank stopped lending to the country.

The situation of political crisis in the country was accompanied by unrest, borders were closed, and broadcasting of foreign satellite TV channels was stopped. The number of refugees to neighboring Liberia has increased (according to the UN, by mid-February 2010 their number was 50 thousand people, and by April 2011 it will exceed 100 thousand people). Against the backdrop of political instability, the epidemiological situation in the country has also worsened - outbreaks of yellow fever, malaria and an outbreak of cholera have been recorded in the municipality of Abidjan.

The small state in western Africa has long been known to the world as the Land of Slaves, the Land of Grain and the place of the Golden Embankments. The material will introduce you to the country whose name translates as Ivory Coast. Tourists are interested in what kind of people live in this country, what kind of nature there is, what kind of capital it is. Thousands of guests come to Ivory Coast every year for this attraction. The thing is that this city was built by the French, and the local architecture is very close to architecture but at the same time has its own zest.

Coffee Country

The territory of the modern republic began to be populated at the beginning of the Stone Age. The first inhabitants were the pygmies. But they led a nomadic lifestyle. Therefore, soon other tribes came to these lands, those that still live in the state. With the development of colonial conquest, the migration of peoples stopped.

Since the end of the 15th century, Europe exported gold, timber and coffee beans from these regions. 1893 the land was declared

Tribes constantly fought for independence. The maximum uprisings occurred during army recruitment in connection with the First World War.

In 1934, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire was proclaimed. Abidjan became it. Soon, in 1945, the first party was founded, which until then had been a union of local farmers. Felix Houphouet-Boigny created and headed the organization.

In 1957, the country received autonomy status. And on August 7, 1960 it became an independent state. The leader of the above-mentioned party was elected president. By 1979, the state had grown economically. It ranked first in the export of coffee beans. The following years were characterized by drought. This resulted in a decline in development.

City of Cut Leaves

Abidjan is the first official capital. Cote d'Ivoire is a unique region where each settlement has its own legend. This city was no exception. The myth says that when the first European military men intended to build a port on these shores and disembarked from their ships, they met the local population. The peasants carried baskets with cut leaves and branches on their heads.

One of the men asked the Africans what the name of this village was. But the poor did not understand French, in which people from distant lands addressed them. Moreover, they perceived the unknown words as a threat. One man thought that the visitors were dissatisfied with their work. Then the daredevil shouted back to them: “Abidjan,” which meant “these are cut branches.” The Europeans marked the place on the map.

The temporary capital has a long history. Cote d'Ivoire is an old country, but it began to grow only at the end of the 19th century. Abidjan was founded in 1896 by French settlers. It is located on the coast and consists of four peninsulas within the Ebrier Lagoon.

The secret center

The population of the city, whose name still sounds like “cut leaves” in the Ebriye dialect, is about 4 million people (and another million if you include the suburbs). Almost everyone speaks French, which is why the city is called the Paris of Africa. This is the second place in the world in terms of the number of French-speaking people (the championship belongs to the city of the Eiffel Tower).

Despite the fact that the new capital of Cote d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro, Abidjan maintains its leadership position. It is the center of political life. It is the permanent place of work of the president and ministers.

Construction is actively developing here, so another unofficial name is New York of Africa. This is the territory of museums, stadiums and theaters. It has an airport and two ports.

Abidjan is also a city of footballers, more than twenty of whom were finalists

Homeland of the head of state

President Felix Houphouet-Boigny has done a lot for his country. It was under him that the republic flourished and developed. In 1983, a new capital was formed. Cote d'Ivoire was headed by Yamoussoukro. This city is the birthplace of the first ruler. This is the reason for the transfer of the center of the state.

The settlement dates back to the end of the 19th century. It was founded by French colonialists. It was the first center of Ivory Coast until 1934, when Abidjan took its place.

The area is located two hundred kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. The latter fact was the reason for the long road to economic recovery. The fact is that Europeans preferred to invest money in points that lie on the coastal zone. This is how Abidjan grew. That is why the current capital of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire remained unnoticed for a long time.

The new history of the city began after the declaration of independence. With the reforms of Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the Ivory Coast began to rise.

Provincial capital

The center of the country has its own airport (only three cities accept planes). Agriculture is actively developing outside its borders. Yams, bananas, and cocoa beans are actively grown. Livestock is represented by goats and sheep. Although most industrial sites are concentrated in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro has food and wood processing companies in its territory.

Although the center was moved, the seat of the central government and foreign ministries remained in Abidjan. Because of this, few foreigners knew that Yamoussoukro was the capital. Cote d'Ivoire developed well and quickly, and in the 1960-1980s they began to invest enormous amounts of money in the city. But already in the 80s, a noticeable crisis began. Declining prices for export goods had a negative impact on development.

General information

The climate in the country varies from tropical to equatorial. The whole year is characterized by high humidity and significant precipitation. The most rain falls in April-July and October-November. Average temperatures are +30.

As of 2010, the city's population was almost 250,000. Most (more than 60%) come from the Bakongo and Bate-ke tribes. Despite the fact that the official language is French, many people communicate in their native dialect.

The capital does not have a single high-quality higher education institution. Cote d'Ivoire today has a big problem with its education system. The center of student life is Abidjan. Every teenager dreams of going to study abroad.

In terms of religious composition, more than 50% are Christians, although in the country as a whole, almost 40% profess Islam. This number of Muslims is due to the fact that a large share of them are illegal immigrants and foreign workers.

Heart of the capital

Tourism is now actively developing. Golden beaches and exotic destinations are attracting more and more travelers. Not only the nature of the country is unique, but also its architecture. Supporters of this art can look at national clay houses covered with palm leaves, or give preference to modern creations.

The pride of Yamoussoukro is the Church of Notre-Dame de la Paix. Anyone who likes religious architecture knows where to go. They know what kind of country it is, what its capital is. Cote d'Ivoire has long called the building its calling card. It was built on the model of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The height is 158 meters. The number of parishioners that the church can accommodate is 11,000. It was decorated with marble from Italy and French colored glass.

Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

November 18-19, 2010

Cote D'Ivoire is a highly developed country in West Africa. Back in the 1960s, the entire government was made up of white Frenchmen. There are normal roads, normal buildings, and the population has a European demeanor.

Côte d'Ivoire is a fairly developed country in West Africa. Even as recently as the 1960s, all the government posts were occupied by white Frenchmen. The roads are normal here, the buildings are normal, and the population has a European bearing.

Like Guinea, Ivory Coast is a French-speaking country. That's why they eat baguettes here.

Like Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire is a French-speaking country. Therefore, baguettes are consumed here.

As in Guinea, the white man is not liked or respected here. As in Guinea, elections were recently held here.

Like in Guinea, white people are neither liked nor respected here. Like in Guinea, an election was recently held here.

As in Guinea, both sides are not going to accept the election results as final.

Like in Guinea, neither side intends to accept the results of the election as final.

The only difference with Guinea is that the election results are going to be announced a couple of weeks after I leave this hospitable place with bats in the trees (black clumps on the branches).

The one difference from Guinea is that the election results are to be announced a couple of weeks after I leave this hospitable place with bats on the trees (the black clumps on the branches).

As in neighboring countries, here hand luggage and medium-sized luggage are carried on the head.

Like in neighboring countries, people transport carry-on bags and medium-sized luggage on top of their heads.

But in the sidewalks there are hatches with the Internet.

But at the same time, there are Internet access ports in the sidewalks.

All fences are decorated with security pins and thorns.

All the fences are decorated with spikes and barbs for added security.

You can't even park in front of many of them.

Parking is prohibited in front of many of them, too.

The main city is Abidjan (I would never have thought that such a Central Asian name could exist in Africa, but in this case this word came from local tribes). There are French signs here from the late 1970s.

The biggest city in Côte d’Ivoire is Abidjan (I never would have thought that such a Central Asian-sounding name could exist in Africa, but in this case the word came from local tribes). The city still has French street signs from the late 1970s.

Abidjan traffic light.

An Abidjan traffic light.

Another one.

The taxi is red-orange.

Taxis are a reddish-orange color.

There's a signature thing on the taxi's roof.

A custom top light on the taxi roof.

Car number.

A license plate.

Under the windshield of every car there is a box of tear-out napkins (in Egypt, for example, every car also has such a box, but there, as a rule, it is attached to the roof with elastic bands).

Every car has a box of tissues under the windshield (in Egypt, for example, there’s also a tissue box in every car, but there it’s usually attached to the roof with elastic bands).

What do Abidjan and Donetsk have in common? Cell phone recharge kiosks in the form of a cell phone.

What do Abidjan and Donetsk have in common? Kiosks for recharging your cell phone balance in the shape of a cell phone.

Payphone booth.

A payphone booth.

A less modern pay phone booth.

A less modern payphone booth.

A more modern pay phone booth.

A more modern payphone booth.

At bus stops, the roof is always at a cheerfully raised angle.

All the bus stops have roofs with a perky slant.

Post office. Postcards are sent from here, there are no boxes on the streets.

A post office. Postcards are mailed from here, there aren’t any street post boxes.

Street sale of sofas.

Couches being sold on the street.

Horse-drawn transport.

An animal-drawn vehicle.

For some reason, all the umbrellas under which market trade takes place are covered with pieces of black polyethylene.

For some reason, all the street market umbrellas are covered with black plastic sheeting.

At the Abidjan Zoo you can feed a hippopotamus with popcorn.

You can feed a hippo popcorn at the Abidjan zoo.

And communicate with your ancestors.

And socialize with your ancestors.

Just outside the city, typical Africa begins.

Right outside the city, a more typical Africa begins.

French civilization is unable to change this.

Something French civilization is powerless to change.

Before leaving, I went to the only Russian restaurant on the continent. It's called "Restoruss". Here they serve vodka in a decanter frozen in a piece of ice, luxurious pickles, delicious borscht and native dumplings. I recommend.

Before leaving, I stopped into the one and only Russian restaurant on the continent. It's called Restoruss. They serve vodka in carafes that are frozen into blocks of ice, splendid pickles, delicious borsch and homestyle pelmeni. Highly recommended.

On December 4, 2010, both presidential candidates—the current one and the newly elected one—took the oath of office, and classic African mayhem began on the streets. Western embassies urgently evacuated staff. Fifteen thousand people, just in case, fled to Liberia, where there is less chance of dying in a new civil war. There is reason to believe that the reader will not try Ivorian dumplings any time soon.

On December 4, 2010 both presidential candidates—the incumbent and the newly-elected one—were sworn in, and the usual African chaos and mayhem broke out in the streets. The embassies of Western countries immediately evacuated their employees. Just in case, fifteen thousand people fled to Liberia, where the chances of dying in a new civil war are smaller. There’s good reason to believe that the reader won’t be able to try the pelmeni in Côte d’Ivoire anytime soon.