The
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire is a country in West Africa . It is commonly known in English as
Ivory Coast.
Capital Yamoussoukro
Population:20Million(2009 Estimate)
Currency : West African CFA Franc
Official Language : French
Map of Ivory Coast 
Flag of Ivory Coast 
Ivory Coast. became independent from France on 7 August 1960. From 1960 to 1993, the country was led by
Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
Houphouët-Boigny favoured Henri Konan Bedie as his successor.In October 1995,
Bédié overwhelmingly won re-election against a fragmented and disorganised opposition.
Henri Konan Bedié emphasized the concept of "Ivority" to exclude his rival Alassane Ouattara
, who had two northern Ivorian parents, from running for future presidential election. As people originating from foreign countries are a large part of the Ivoirian population, this policy excluded many people from Ivoirian nationality, and the relationship between various ethnic groups became strained.Also
Henri Konan Bedié excluded many potential opponents from the army.In late 1999, a group of dissatisfied officers staged a Military Coup
, putting General robert Guei in power.
Bédié fled into exile in France.
Henri Konan Bedié
A Presidential Election was held in October 2000 in which Laurent Gbagbo vied with
Guéï, but it was peaceful. The lead-up to the election was marked by military and civil unrest. Following a public uprising that resulted in around 180 deaths,
Guéï was swiftly replaced by Gbagbo.Alassane Ouattara was disqualified by the country's Supreme Court, due to his alleged
Burkinabé nationality.
Ivorian Civil War
In the early hours of September 19, 2002, while the President was in Italy, there was an armed uprising. Troops who were to be demobilised mutinied, launching attacks in several cities. The battle for the main gendarmerie barracks in Abidjan lasted until mid-morning, but by lunchtime the government forces had secured the main city, Abidjan. They had lost control of the north of the country, and the rebel forces made their strong-hold in the northern city of Bouake. The rebels threatened to move on Abidjan again and France deployed troops from its base in the country to stop any rebel advance. The French said they were protecting their own citizens from danger, but their deployment also aided the government forces. It was not established as a fact that the French were helping either side but each side accused them of being on the opposite side. It is disputed as to whether the French actions improved or worsened the situation in the long term.
What exactly happened that night is disputed. The government said that former president Robert Guéï had led a coup attempt, and state TV showed pictures of his dead body in the street; counter-claims said that he and fifteen others had been murdered at his home and his body had been moved to the streets to incriminate him. Alassane Ouattara took refuge in the French embassy; his home burned down.
In January 2003, Gbagbo and rebel leaders signed accords creating a "government of national unity". Curfews were lifted and French troops patrolled the western border of the country. Since then, the unity government has proven unstable and the central problems remain with neither side achieving its goals.Though UN peacekeepers were deployed to maintain a Zone of Confidence, relations between Gbagbo and the opposition continued to deteriorate.
2010 election
The Presidential Elections that should have been organized in 2005 were postponed until November 2010
.
The Story - Ivory Coast: Battle for power
- 28 Nov 2010: Incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and challenger Alassane Ouattara compete in election run-off
- 2 December: Electoral commission announces that Mr Ouattara has won
- 3 December: Constitutional Council overturns results, declaring Mr Gbagbo the winner; UN recognises Mr Ouattara as the victor
- 2 Feb 2011: European Union extends sanctions against Mr Gbagbo
- 30 March: Pro-Ouattara forces enter the capital, Yamoussoukro, as fighting intensifies
- 4 April: UN launches air strikes on Mr Gbagbo in the main city, Abidjan
- 5 April: Three generals negotiate Mr Gbagbo's surrender
Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down even though the United Nations, which helped organise the election, said he had lost and Alassane Ouattara had won.
the African Union, the European Union, the UN and the West African regional body Ecowas all called on Mr Gbagbo to step down and imposed sanctions to force him out.
The AU gave Mr Gbagbo until 24 March to step down but nothing happened.
A few days later, pro-Ouattara forces swept down from their northern strongholds in a relentless march towards the seat of power in Abidjan.
The UN has accused pro-Gbagbo security forces of firing shells into residential areas seen as supporting Mr Ouattara.
Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Gbagbo educated academic turned opposition leader(20 years in opposition) came to power in 2000, when military leader Robert Guei's attempts to rig elections were defeated by street protests by Mr Gbagbo's supporters in the main city, Abidjan.
Following the 2002 civil war, which split the country between the north and south, the constitution was amended to remove the stipulation that both a presidential candidate's parents be Ivorian.
This opened the way for Mr Ouattara to take on President Laurent Gbagbo in November 2010 - in polls the UN peacekeeping mission in the country says he won.
Alassane Dramane Ouattara
Gbagbo urged to quit amid bloody battles
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon has called on Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo to step aside to avoid further violence.More than one million people have already fled their homes, with many of them crossing borders to Liberia and Ghana .While Mr Gbagbo's most senior general has defected, seeking security in the home of a foreign diplomat, a core group of his soldiers are fighting on.The main battle is taking place around the heavily-fortified presidential palace, the last stronghold of his supporters.
Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised president of the Ivory Coast, has announced a "rapid offensive" to oust his rival Laurent Gbagbo. Above, fighters supporting Alassane Ouattara patrol the Abobo district of Abidjan
December 2011 Parliamentary Elections
The Parliamentary Elections was held on Dec 11, 2011(after the Presidential Election which was held in Nov 2010. This followed a peace agreement between the government and the New Forces (former rebels) that was signed in March 2007)
The Party of President Alassane Ouattara has won most seats in Ivory Coast's parliamentary elections - the first poll since ex-leader Laurent Gbagbo was arrested.Alassane Ouattara's Party( RDR) gained just under half the 255 seats, while the allied PDCI won 77 to ensure a large majority.
Laurent Gbagbo's Party boycotted the poll in protest after he was sent to The Hague(awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC)
