Roll Number - 720

COTE D’IVOIRE

Formerly known as IVORY COAST

INTRODUCTION

Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular protest forced him to step aside and brought Laurent GBAGBO into power.

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

GOVERNMENT TYPE - Republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960. The government is currently disputed as of 31 January 2011, with both candidates in the runoff claiming victory.

Chief of State - President Alassane OUATTARA (since 4 December 2010)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Guillaume SORO (since 4 April 2007)

Cabinet - Council of Ministers appointed by the President.

Elections - president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 31 October and 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the President.

Political Parties [and Leaders] - Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Theodore MEL EG]; Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Pascale Affi N'GUESSAN] etc.

Political Pressure Groups [and Leaders] - Federation of University and High School Students of Cote d'Ivoire or FESCI [Serges KOFFI]; Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace or RHDP [Alphonse DJEDJE MADY]; Young Patriots [Charles BLE GOUDE]

Economic analysis

Heavily dependent on Agriculture and related activities which engage roughly 85% of Population.

World’s largest producer and exporter of Cocoa Beans.

Significant producer and exporter of Coffee and Palm Oil. [These commodities are also the highest revenue earners]

As a result, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products.

The country also produces Gold.

Since the end of the civil war in 2003, political turmoil has continued to damage the economy, resulting in the loss of foreign investment and slow economic growth. 

GDP (PPP) –

$34.79 billion (2008 est.)

$36.09 billion (2009 est.)

$37.02 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (Real Growth Rate) –

2.3% (2008 est.)

3.8% (2009 est.)

2.6% (2010 est.)

Per Capita Income –

$1,700 (2008 est.)

$1,800 (2009 est.)

$1,800 (2010 est.)

GDP – Sector-wise Distribution –

Agriculture: 28%

Industry: 21.3%

Services: 50.7%

Below Poverty Line Population –

42% (2006 est.)

Budget - Revenues: $4.571 billion

Expenditures: $5.027 billion

Commercial Bank Lending Rate –

4.3%

External Debt –

$11.7 billion (2009)$11.52 billion (2010)

Current Account Balance –

$1.67 billion (2009 est.)$541.4 million (2010 est.)

Social & Demography analysis

Population –

21,504,162 (2011 est.)

Age Structure –

0-14 years: 39.8% (male 4,312,133/female 4,240,500)

15-64 years: 57.2% (male 6,262,802/female 6,039,458)

65 years and over: 3% (male 320,396/female 328,873)

Population Growth Rate –

2.078% (2011 est.)

Birth Rate –

30.95 births /1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death Rate –

10.16 deaths/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Urbanization –

Urban population: 51% of total population

Rate of urbanization: 3.7% annual rate of change

Sex Ratio –

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.03

Infant Mortality Rate –

Total: 64.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 71.54 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 57.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy –

Total population: 56.78 years

Male: 55.79 years

Female: 57.81 years

Total Fertility Rate –

3.92 children born/woman

Drinking Water Source –

Improved : 80% of Population

Unimproved : 20% of Population

Sanitation Facility Access –

Improved : 23% of Population

Unimproved : 77% of Population

Literacy Rate –

(Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write)

Total population: 48.7%

Male: 60.8%

Female: 38.6%

Religion –

Muslim : 38.6%, Christian : 32.8%,

Indigenous : 11.9%, None : 16.7%

Education Expenditure –

4.6% of GDP

Culture

MUSIC –

Each of the ethnic groups in Côte d'Ivoire has its own music genres, most showing strong vocal polyphony. Talking drums are also common, especially among the Appolo, and polyrhythms, another African characteristic, are found throughout Côte d'Ivoire and are especially common in the southwest. Popular music genres from Côte d'Ivoire include zoblazo, zouglou and Coupé-Décalé.

 

SPORT

Côte d'Ivoire won an Olympic silver medal for men's 400-metre in 1984. The Côte d'Ivoire football team has played in the World Cup twice, in Germany 2006 and in South Africa 2010. Didier Yves Drogba is regarded as the icon of Cote d’Ivoire’s sporting world. CUISINE Relies on Grains and Tubers Cassava and Plantains are significant Ivorian cuisines. Peanuts are widely used in many dishes. Other popular dishes - Attiéké, Aloko, Seafood such

as Tuna, Sardines, Shrimps and Bonito.

Technology analysisCOMMUNICATION

Main Telephone Lines in use : 282,100

Number of Mobile Cellular Telephones : 13.346 million

 System :Two fixed-line providers operating over open-wire lines, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optics; 90%

digitalized.

 Fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1

Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

BROADCAST MEDIA

State-owned television operates 2 stations. No private terrestrial TV stations, but satellite TV

subscription service is available. State-owned radio operates 2 stations. Some private radio stations. Transmissions of several international broadcasters are

available.

Internet Hosts : 9,865Internet Users : 967,300

TRANSPORTATION Airports : 27

Pipelines : Condensate 86 km; gas 180 km; oil 92 km

Railways : Total - 660 km

Roadway : Total - 80,000 km

Waterways : Total - 980 km (Navigable rivers, Canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)

ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS

Natural Resources : Petroleum, Natural gas, Diamonds, Manganese, Iron ore, Cobalt, Bauxite, Copper, Gold, Nickel, Tantalum, Silica sand, Clay, Cocoa beans, Coffee, Palm oil, Hydropower.

Natural Hazards : Coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible.

Current Environment Issues - Deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); Water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents.

International Agreements –

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

Legal System - Civil law system based on the French civil code; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court.

Suffrage – 18 years of age.