West Africa: bordered on the northern side by Mali and Burkina-Faso, on the western side by Liberia and Guinea (Conakry) and Ghana on the eastern part.
Political Capital
Commercial Capital
Yamoussoukro
Abidjan
Head of State
President Laurent Gbagbo
Area
322,465 sq km
Population
15'366'672
Growth rate
3.1%
Language
French (official) Dioula (for business)and "61 mother thongs"
Currency
West African CFA franc
GNP per capita
$1.580
Inflation
4%
Airlines
from Europe & U.S.A.: Fly SN Brussels Airlines
from Asia: ________________
from USA: ________________
Hotels
(advertise here)
Names & Rates per night
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Although it is one of the smallest countries of Africa, the Côte d'Ivoire is a country of extraordinary cultural richness.
While the southern coastal area has for the last several decades served as an archetype of prosperity and modernisation, the
northern and western regions of the Côte d'Ivoire are home to two fascinating and vital traditional cultures-the Senufo and the
Dan. The country has good roads, great beaches and outstanding artwork. Korhogo, 55 km west of Ferkessedougou is the center of
Senoufo culture and one of the country’s major craft centers. Ivorian carvings are being sold in the West for a ten-fold of the
selling price of the producer. Artists Traore Sine started a factory building Djembé fola, the bongo, made of Lenké, the secret
wood or devil's wood. Well known are toiles (rough painted textiles). The Man region is the draw card culture of the Dan people.
Their masks, which are used in initiation ceremonies, and their stilt dancers, are famous. Superb beaches and delicious seafood
can be found in Sassandra, 250 km west of Abidjan. French is the official language, although Baoule and other local languages
are widely used. DIOULA language is used for trade. The main ethnics groups according a national survey in 1998 are: First Baoulé,
Second Senouho, third Dioula, and fourth Agny. Further dialects are Bété, Gouro, Yacouba, Guéré, Wobê, Agni, Lobi, Malinké, Gagou,
Abouré, Ebrié, Attié, Abron, Godié, Neyo and Adioukrou.
Abidjan in the south with 3'000'000 inhabitants
Bouake in central IC: 850'000
Daloa in the West: 300'000
San-Pedro in the South West: 250'000
Korhogo in the North: 250'000
Yamoussoukro in the Center 250'000
Amara Essy:
Former Secretary-General Organization of African Unity:
The 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU elected, early morning of 10 July 2001, Mr.
Amara Essy as the new Secretary-General, Mr. Essy is the former Ivory Coast Foreign Minister. He also steered the
affairs of the Secretariat during the transition period to the African Union.
"Often perceived as Permanently "aid-dependent" or a "burden," Africa has in fact got a grip on itself, pressing ahead with
economic rationalisation This open-minded commitment should be encouraged by the international Community".
