Ivory Coast West Africa. School encyclopedia

Republic of Cote d "Ivoire. State in West Africa. Capital - Yamoussoukro (about 120 thousand people - 2003). Territory - 322.46 thousand sq. km. Administrative division - 18 regions. Population - 17.33 million people (2003). Official language - French. Religion - traditional African beliefs, Islam and Christianity. The monetary unit is the CFA franc. National holiday - August 7 - Independence Day (1960). Côte d'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 ( YEMOA) from 1962 and the General Afro-Mauritian Organization (OKAM) from 1965.

State flag... A rectangular panel with three equal-sized vertical stripes of orange, white and green (the white stripe is in the center).

Cote d'Ivoire. Capitals: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (actual). Population - 15 million people (1998). Population density - 45 people per 1 sq. Km. Urban population - 48%, rural - 52%. Area - 332.5 thousand sq. Km. The highest point is Mount Nimba (1752 m). The official language is French. The main religions: Islam, Christianity, local traditional beliefs. Administrative divisions - 49 departments. Monetary unit - franc CFA National holiday: Independence Day - August 7. National anthem: "Hello, country of hope."

Flag of Ivory Coast

ABIDZHAN - THE CAPITAL OF COT-D "IVUARA

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General information

Geographical position. Cote d'Ivoire is a state in West Africa. In the north it borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, in the east with Ghana, in the west with Liberia and Guinea. In the south it is washed by the Gulf of Guinea.

Square. The territory of Côte d'Ivoire occupies 320,763 sq. Km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The official capital of the Cote d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro; the seat of the president and government is Abidjan. The largest cities: Abidjan (2 797 thousand people), Bwake (330 thousand people), Daloa (122 thousand people), Yamoussoukro ( 107 thousand people) Administrative-territorial division of the country: 50 departments.

Political system

Côte d'Ivoire is a republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislature is a unicameral National Assembly.

Relief. The surface of the country is predominantly plain, in the west there are mountains up to 1,340 m high. The coast is dotted with a large number of large and deep lagoons, most of which are unnavigable due to the numerous shoals.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain reserves of diamonds, oil, iron ore, manganese, cobalt, copper, bauxite.

Climate. The climate in the southern part of the country is tropical and humid with heavy rainfall. Temperatures range from 22 ° C to 32 ° C, with the heaviest rains occurring from April to July, as well as in October and November. Precipitation in most of the country's territory is 1,100 - 1,800 mm, on the coastal lowland 1,300 - 2,300 mm per year.

Inland waters. The main rivers are Sasandra, Bandama and Comoe, but none of them is navigable further than 65 km from the estuary due to numerous rapids and a sharp drop in water level during the dry season.

Soils and vegetation. The coastal area is covered with dense tropical forests. In the north and center of the country lies a vast savannah.

Animal world... In Cote d'Ivoire there are jackal, hyena, panther, elephant, chimpanzee, crocodile, several species of lizards and poisonous snakes.

Population and language

The population of Cote d'Ivoire is about 15.5 million, people, the average population density is about 48 people per km2. There are more than 60 ethnic groups. Of these, the largest: Baule - 23%, Bethe - 18%), Senoufo - 15 %, malinke - 11% Languages: French (state), Akan, Kru, Voltec, Malinke.

Religion

Pagans - 65%), Muslims - 23%, Christians (mostly Catholics) - 12%.

A brief historical outline

In the 15th century, when the first Europeans appeared on the territory of the country, early political formations existed here (the northern part was part of the sphere of influence of Ghana, Mali, Songhai). From the beginning of the 18th century. French colonialists penetrate here. In 1893 the French colony of the Ivory Coast was formed; later the country became part of the colony of French West Africa. Since August 1960, an independent state. The name Ivory Coast was officially changed to Côte d'Ivoire in October 1985.

Brief economic outline

Cote d'Ivoire is an agrarian country. The main commercial crops: cocoa (leading place in the world), coffee, bananas, hevea, oil palm, cotton. Fishing. Large logging. Oil production. textile industry Oil refining Exports: coffee, cocoa beans, cocoa products, as well as timber, oil palm products, pineapples and bananas.

The monetary unit is the CFA franc.

A brief outline of culture

Art and architecture. Yamoussoukro. The largest cathedral in the world, modeled on the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.

The phrase "Ivory Coast" is known to many, but not everyone will draw an analogy with the West African Republic of Cote d Ivoire, but this is one and the same, they just translated the name from French.

It existed until 1960.

This country is amazing not only for its name and history, but also for its cultural component, as well as nature, all this often attracts a lot of tourists. It is here that you can learn the true African culture and traditions that are carefully preserved by numerous local tribes. The local nature is also benevolent, delighting with variety and colors.

The republic of Cote d'Ivoire is located on the southern Atlantic coast of the western subregion of Africa, indented by lagoons. Nearby countries:

• Burkina Faso;
• Mali;
• Ghana;
• Guinea;

The proximity to the equator is reflected in the climate, it is of two types here:

• equatorial (south), it is constantly humid, which is supported by oceanic air, the heat is 22-32 degrees;
• subequatorial (north), characterized by the contrast of seasons, it is dry and cool in winter, up to 12 degrees Celsius, in summer more than 40 degrees and little precipitation.

The tropical forests located in the south are noticeably decreasing due to deforestation, so they are no longer as dense as before, although they are still diverse in species composition. Savannahs occupy the rest of the territory.

And yet there are the most beautiful national parks, known throughout the region, where many travelers come. You can look at the primordially virgin forest in the following protected reserves:

• Marakhuz;

The latter is marked by UNESCO as a world heritage.

In addition to the legendary in Côte d'Ivoire, there are many other inhabitants, for example:

• monkey;
• rhinos;
• lions;
• giraffes;
• zebras;
• cheetahs;
• buffaloes.

In tropical forests, naturally, a large number of insects and exotic birds.

The uniqueness of the local nature is also in the fact that the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire is one of the few in Africa that has its own drinking water. The system is abundant here, the main ones are:

• Bandama;
• Comoe;
• Sasandra.

The bowels of Cote d'Ivoire are rich in natural resources:

• gold;
• diamonds;
• oil;
• nickel;
• manganese;
• copper;
• bauxite and other raw materials.

Not least because of this, the Ivory Coast has a fairly developed economy, especially when compared with other African states. A special role is assigned to agriculture, the republic occupies the first places in the world for the supply of such goods:

• cocoa;
• coffee.

Also grown for export:

• rubber;
• Palm oil;
• cotton;
• bananas;
• tobacco;
• pineapples.

Contributes to the continuous development and strengthening of the gas and oil industries.

And yet, there are problematic sides in Côte d'Ivoire:

• insufficient funding for education;
• a large number of poor people;
• instability.

Tourists to these regions are attracted not so much by the capital of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, but by the natural and cultural wealth of various peoples who love and live with it, as well as other manifestations of creativity.

The local art is the best in the region, while each ethnic group has a unique flavor.

The sights here are:

• the largest cathedral of the Virgin of the World;
• the Gbon Kulibali Museum with vivid examples of folk crafts;
• waterfall Mont Tonqui;
• National park Comoe.

A separate asset is the local cuisine, because the traditional fish and meat dishes of the tribes are complemented by French charm, especially the sauces - they are amazing.

Capital of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

Everyone can find out that the official capital of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro, located in the center of the country. The president was once born here, and in 1983 he appointed his hometown as the main one.

It is a small settlement with traditional buildings and a small number of inhabitants. Of the modern structures, there are only:

• town hall;
• The National Palace;
• Higher National School;
• hotels.

There are also woodworking and food industries. But even this does not allow the city to be prosperous and influential, therefore the de facto capital of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire is Abidjan, which played this role earlier.

But there is a unique place that attracts many travelers to Yamoussoukro, we are talking about a unique example of the Church of Notre Dame de la Pax. This Christian cathedral is the highest in the world, while it is almost identical to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The hall of the building is decorated with original stained-glass windows, striking in size and quantity (36 pieces).

The content of the article

COT-D "IVUAR. Republic of Cote d "Ivoire. State in West Africa. Capital - Yamoussoukro (about 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. The monetary unit is the CFA franc. National holiday - August 7 - Independence Day (1960). Côte d'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 ( YEMOA) from 1962 and the General Afro-Mauritian Organization (OKAM) from 1965.

State flag... A rectangular panel with three equal-sized vertical stripes of orange, white and green (the white stripe is in the center).

Geographical location and boundaries.

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 in the north into a plateau with a height of more than 400 m above sea level. In the northwest there are large Dan and Tura mountain ranges with deep gorges. The highest point is Mount Nimba (1752 m). Minerals - diamonds, bauxite, iron, gold, manganese, oil, nickel, natural gas and titanium. The climate of the northern and central regions is subequatorial dry, and the southern one is equatorial humid. The zones of these climates differ mainly in the amount of precipitation. The average annual air temperature is + 26 ° (Celsius). The average annual rainfall 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, Sasandra, etc., which are not navigable due to the presence of rapids (except for the Cavalli river). The largest river is Bandama (950 km). Lakes - Varapa, Dadie, Dalaba, Labion, Lupongo and others. Cote d'Ivoire is one of the 12 African countries that meet the needs of the population in clean drinking water.

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

Population.

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

The citizens of Côte d'Ivoire are called Ivorians. The country is inhabited by more than 60 African peoples and ethnic groups: Baule, Anyi, Bakwe, Bambara, Beta, Gere, Dan (or Yakuba), Kulango, Malinke, Mosi, Lobi, Senufo, Tura, Fulbe and others. 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 languages ​​of Anyi and Baule are the most widespread. 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 policy. civil war most of the immigrants became refugees and internally displaced persons. According to UN estimates, 600,000 residents of Cote d'Ivoire fled to neighboring African states (the contingent of Ivorian refugees in Liberia in 2003 numbered 25,000). Approximately 50% of the population live in cities: Abidjan (3.1 million people - 2001), Agbovil, Bouake, Korhogo, Boundiali, Man, etc. In April 1983 the capital was moved to Yamoussoukro, nevertheless, Abidjan continues to be 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 was approved by a referendum on July 23, 2000. 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 a maximum of two five-year terms. Legislative power is vested in the president and a one-seat parliament (National Assembly). Members of Parliament are elected by direct and secret universal suffrage for a five-year term.

The judicial system.

All administrative, civil, commercial and criminal cases are considered in the courts of first instance. A military tribunal was established in 1973. The highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court.

Defense.

The national army was formed in 1961. In August 2002, the armed forces of the Cote d'Ivoire consisted of the ground forces (6.5 thousand people), the air force (700 people), navy(900 people), the paramilitary presidential guard (1350 people) and a 10-thousandth contingent of reservists. Gendarmerie units numbered 7.6 thousand people, militia - 1.5 thousand people. Compulsory military service was introduced in December 2001. In 1996, with the assistance of France, a military training center was opened in the country. In July 2004, 4,000 French army personnel were stationed in the buffer zone between government and rebel forces (according to a UN decision, they will remain there until the 2005 elections). France supplies Côte d'Ivoire with equipment and assistance in the military training of units of its army.

Foreign policy.

An important place is occupied by bilateral relations with France (diplomatic relations were established in 1961). She is the main trading partner of Côte d'Ivoire, she has a primary role in resolving the political crisis of 1999-2003. Côte 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 problem of refugees.

Diplomatic relations with the USSR were established in January 1967. In May 1969 they were severed at the initiative of the government of Côte 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. -the legal base of bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and Cote d'Ivoire.

Economy.

It is based on a private form of ownership. Most of the mixed enterprises are controlled by foreign capital (mainly French). Côte 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 countries, and the fifth largest exporter of palm oil in the world. (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 - 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, sugarcane, sorghum, taro, cotton and yams. Livestock (breeding of cows, goats, sheep, pigs) and poultry farming due to the spread of the tsetse fly is developed only in the northern regions. 65-70 thousand tons of fish are caught annually. Cote d'Ivoire is one of the major suppliers of timber and timber products of their valuable tropical species.

Industry.

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

Energy.

In 2001, 61.9% of electricity was generated at thermal power plants, 38.1% at hydroelectric power plants (Ayame, on the Belaya Bandama river, in Taabo). Cote d'Ivoire exports electricity to neighboring countries (1.3 billion kW - 2001). Oil production (1,027 thousand tons - 1997) is underway.

Transport.

The total length of railways - 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 with hard surface). International airports are located in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake and Yamoussoukro.

International trade.

Cote d'Ivoire is one of the few African countries in which exports lead in the foreign trade balance. In 2003, the volume of exports amounted to USD 5.29 billion, and imports - USD 2.78 million. Main export goods: coffee , cocoa beans, oil, 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. The main import goods are oil products, equipment, foodstuffs. The 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 rate was: 1 USD. USA = 581.2 CFA francs.

Administrative structure.

The country is divided into 18 regions, which are made up of 57 departments.

Political organizations.

A multi-party system has developed: in 2000 there were 90 political parties and associations. The most influential ones are: Ivorian People's Front, IFN (Front populaire ivoirien, FPI). The ruling party. Founded in 1983 in France, legalized in 1990. Chairman - N "Gessan" (Affi N "Gessan), General Secretary - Ureto Sylvain Miaka (Sylvain Miaka Oureto); Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire, PDCI (Parti démocratigue de la Côte d "Ivoire, PDCI). The party was founded in 1946 as the local section of the Democratic Unification of Africa (DOA). The leader is Henri Konan Bedié; Ivorian Workers' Party, IPT (Parti ivoirien des travailleurs, PIT). The Social Democratic Party became legal in 1990. General Secretary - Srancis Wodié; Union republicans, OP (Rassemblement des républicais). The party was founded in 1994 as a result of the split of the DPKI. Influential in the northern Muslim regions. Leader - Alassane Dramme Ouattara, Secretary General - Henriette Dagba Diabaté; Union for Democracy and Peace Côte d'Ivoire, SDMKI (Union pour la democratie et pour la paix de la Côte d "Ivoire, UDPCI). Founded in 2001 as a result of the DPKI split, led by Paul Akoto Yao.

Trade union associations.

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

Religions.

55% of the indigenous population adhere to traditional beliefs and cults (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors and the 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 higher, as they constitute the majority among illegal foreign workers. Muslims live mainly in the northern regions of the country). Several Afro-Christian churches operate. The spread of Christianity began at the end. 19th century

Education.

Primary education (6 years) is compulsory, 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, the method of television teaching was widespread in elementary and partly secondary schools. A network of educational institutions providing vocational education has been created. The higher education system includes three universities and eight colleges. In 2000, 45 thousand students studied at twelve faculties and departments of the National University in Abidjan (founded in 1964) and 990 teachers worked. Teaching is conducted in French. Education in public educational institutions is free. In 2004, 42.48% of the population were literate (40.27% of men and 44.76% of women).

Healthcare.

Tropical diseases are widespread - bilharziosis, yellow fever, malaria, "sleeping sickness", schistosomiasis, etc. A serious disease called "river blindness" is widespread in river valleys. There is one of the highest rates of leprosy 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. In the middle. In the 1990s, national radio broadcasters began broadcasting a special awareness-raising program, The Talking Drum, on AIDS. In the end. In the 1980s, the United States opened a research center for the study and control of this disease in Abidjan.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.

Published in French: the daily newspapers "Ivoir-soir" (Ivoir-soir - "Ivoire-evening") and "Voie" ("Way", the press organ of INF), weekly newspapers "Belye" (Le Bélier - " Aries ")," Democrat "(Le Démocrate -" Democrat ", the press organ of the DPKI)," Nouvel horizon "(" New Horizon ", the press organ of the INF) and" Zhen Democrat "(Le Jeune démocrate -" Young Democrat "), the weekly Abidjan 7 jours -" Abidjan in a week ", the monthly newspaper" Alif "(Alif -" Alif "), covering the problems of Islam, the monthly magazine" Eburnéa "and others. The government news agency is the Ivorian Press Agency, AIP (Agence ivoirienne de presse, AIP) Established in 1961. The Ivorian Broadcasting and Television Government Service was founded in 1963. The AIP and service are based in Abidjan. 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 of the Gulf of Guinea and the original culture of local peoples. The active development of the tourism industry began with the implementation in 1970 special program calculated up to 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, luxurious ultra-modern hotels "Golf" and "Ivoire" were built in Abidjan, equipped with golf courses and ice tracks. Until 1997, revenues from the tourism business amounted to approx. USD 140 million. In 1998, the country was visited by 301 thousand foreign tourists. In 1997, 15 travel agencies successfully operated on the market, many of which were also involved in organizing business tourism.

Attractions in Abidjan: National Museum (featuring traditional arts and crafts, including a rich collection of masks), Chardy Art Gallery. Other attractions are the Comoe National Park, the famous Gbon Coulibali Museum in Korkhogo (pottery, blacksmithing and wooden 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, a waterfall Mont Tonqui. Tai National Park (in the southwest) with a large number of endemic plants is included in the UN category of world treasures. National cuisine - "ateke" (a dish made from cassava, with fish or meat sauce), "kejena" (fried chicken with rice and vegetables), "fufu" (balls of dough made from yam, cassava or bananas, served to fish or meat with the addition of sauces).

Architecture.

The architectural forms of traditional dwellings are diverse: in the south - rectangular or square wooden houses with a gable roof made of palm leaves, in the central regions there are common adobe houses of rectangular shape (sometimes rounded corners) under a flat roof, divided into several rooms, in the east - rectangular shape with flat roofs, and in other areas the houses are round or oval in plan, the thatched roof has a conical shape. The outer side of adobe houses is often covered with drawings of geometric figures, birds, real and mystical animals, which are painted in yellow, red and black. Luxurious hotels and supermarkets made of reinforced concrete structures and glass have become a feature of modern cities.

Fine arts and crafts.

An important place in the traditional Ivorian culture is occupied by wooden sculptures, especially masks. The ritual masks of the Senufo people are especially diverse. The Dan and Gere peoples have masks with a movable jaw. Art critics consider the wooden sculpture of the Baule people to be the best example of African round sculpture of a non-cult character. In addition to traditional figurines depicting ancestors, animals and various patron spirits, baule craftsmen make small toy figurines for children. The clay funerary figurines of the Anyi people are interesting. Artistic folk crafts are well developed: weaving baskets and mats made of ropes, straw and reeds, pottery (making household utensils and interior decor items), painting the outer sides of houses, making jewelry from bronze, gold and copper, as well as weaving. The production of batik is well developed - original paintings on fabrics depicting animals or floral designs. Senufo batikas are represented in many museums around the world. The professional visual arts began to develop after independence. Outside the country, the name of the artist Kajo Zhdeims Hura is well known. In 1983, the National Association of Artists organized the first professional exhibition of the Ivory Coast painting masters, in which more than 40 artists took part.

Literature.

Contemporary literature is based on oral traditions folk art and develops mainly in French. Its formation is associated with national drama. The most prominent of the writers is the poet, prose writer and playwright Bernard Dadier. Writers - M. Asamua, E. Decran, S. Dembele, BZ Zauru, M. Kone, A. Loba, Sh.Z. Nokan and others. In 2000, the last novel ("Allah is not obliged") by the famous writer was published Amadou Kuruma (died in France in December 2003). His first novel, The Sun of Independence (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 the Ivory Coast. Of the musical instruments are balafons, tom-toms drums, guitars, bark (xylophone), rattles, horns, peculiar harps and lutes, rattles, trumpets and flutes. Choral singing is accompanied by distinctive dances. Interesting ritual dances of the Baule people, dance ge-gblin("People on stilts") the people are given, and also kinion-pli(harvest dance). In the 1970s-1980s, the National Ballet Company of Folklore Dance and the Gyula group were created. The famous Ivorian musician Wanamh received one of the awards at the Pan-African Music Festival held in 2000 in San City (South Africa).

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, in which actors from France taught. Plays by French and Ivorian authors were staged. The play "Tunyantigi" ("Speaker of the Truth") by the local writer A. Kuruma was popular. In the 1980s, the Koteba theater troupe was especially popular.

Cinema.

It has been developing since the 1960s. First film - On the dunes of loneliness- filmed by director T. Basori in 1963. In 1974 the Association of Professional Cinematographers was created. In 1993, Ivorian director Adama Rouamba directed the film In the name of Christ... In 2001 the film was released Adanggaman the famous Ivorian director Roger Gnoan M "Bala (on the problems of slavery) and the tape Skins from the Bronx(about life in Abidjan) by the French director Eliard Delatour, who lives in the Ivory Coast.

History.

Pre-colonial period.

The modern territory of Cote d'Ivoire was inhabited by pygmies as early as the beginning of the Stone Age. From the 1st millennium AD, several migratory streams began to penetrate from the west. , 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, British, Danes and Dutch) landed on the coast of the present Côte d'Ivoire at the end of the 15th century.French missionaries began colonization in 1637. Economic development began in the 1840s: French colonists mined gold, procured and exported tropical timber, planted the plantations of coffee imported from Liberia. March 10, 1893 Ivory Coast was officially declared a colony of France, and since 1895 included in French West Africa (FZA). -1913, etc.). It intensified during the First World War in connection with the forced recruitment into the French army. In the interwar period, the colony became a major producer of coffee, cocoa beans and tropical timber. In 1934 Abidjan became its administrative center. population - the Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast (DP BSK) - created in 1945 on the basis of local farmers' unions. on became the territorial section of the DOA (Democratic Unification of Africa) - the general political organization of the FZA, headed by the African planter Felix Houfue-Boigny. Under the influence of the national liberation movement, France in 1957 granted the BSK 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. Houfouet-Boigny.

A period of independent development.

Independence proclaimed on August 7 1960. F. Houfouet-Boigny became the President of the Republic of the Ivory Coast (BSC). A policy of economic liberalism was proclaimed, based on the inviolability of private property. DP BSK became the only and ruling party. In the 1960s – 1980s, the country's development was characterized by 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%. Income per capita in 1975 - 500 US dollars (in 1960 - 150 US dollars). In the 1980s, an economic recession began due to the fall in world prices for coffee and cocoa beans. F. Houfouet-Boigny remained the permanent president. In October 1985, the country was named "Republic of Cote 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. Houfue-Boigny won the presidential elections in 1990. The main direction of economic policy in the 1990s was the expansion of privatization (in 1994-1998 more than 50 companies were privatized.) After the death of F. Houfouet-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 , the rise in oil prices, the severe drought of 1982-1983, the government's ill-considered spending of foreign loans, as well as cases of their direct embezzlement. The government began to pursue a policy of encouraging foreign investment in the economy. In October 1995, the country held a forum "Invest in Cote d." Ivoire ”, in which Russian companies participated among 350 foreign firms. In 1996 the "Mountain Forum" was held. GDP growth in 1998 amounted to approx. 6% (1994 - 2.1%), the inflation rate in 1996-1997 - 3% (1994 - 32%).

Political stability was a characteristic feature of the country's development in 1960–1999. In the middle. In the 1990s, more than 50 political parties were active. An amendment to the constitution (Article 35 - granting the right to be elected to state authorities only to persons who have Ivorian citizenship by birth, marriage or naturalization) prevented the nomination of Allasan Ouattara (Burkinian by birth) for the presidency. He was nominated by the United Republican Party (RR) and was a serious competitor to A. Conan Bedier, the only candidate in the upcoming presidential elections in 2000. The demonstrations organized by the opposition in September 1998 in protest against a discriminatory article of the constitution were accompanied by clashes with the police. Political tension intensified in October 1999 - in the capital and other cities there were massive demonstrations in support of A.D. Ouattara, and arrests of opposition activists began. They were supported by the soldiers, dissatisfied with the delay in the payment of their salaries. The authorities underestimated the seriousness of the situation. The military speeches were led by retired General Robert Gay. The rebels took control of all key services in the capital. The suspension of the constitution, the removal of the incumbent president, and the dissolution of the government and parliament were announced. Power passed to the National Committee for Public Safety (NKOS), 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.

Cote d'Ivoire in the 21st century

In July 2000, approved by a referendum and adopted a new constitution (its 35th article remained unchanged). The presidential elections were held on October 22, 2000. The leader of the opposition "Union of Republicans" A. Ouattara again could not stand as a candidate because of the discriminatory article of the constitution. The victory was won by the representative of the Ivorian Popular Front (IFF) Laurent Gbagbo (60% of the vote). The military regime was canceled. Parliamentary elections were held from December 10, 2000 to January 14, 2001. INF received 96 mandates, the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire - 94, independent candidates - 22. On September 19, 2002, a military insurrection was raised in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake and Korhogo: 750 troops stormed government offices and the residences of members of the government. In fact, it 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 the army units of the ECOWAS member countries, the revolt in Abidjan was suppressed. However, the rebel groups It was possible to take control of all the northern, as well as part of the central and western regions. In some areas clashes on ethnic and confessional grounds. Armed groups from Liberia and Sierra Leone took the side of the rebels, which aggravated the interstate relations of Côte d'Ivoire with 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 end of the civil war was officially declared in July 2003, but the country remained split in two: the government-controlled south and the opposition-controlled north. At the end of February 2004, to help the government in resolving the conflict, the UN Security Council dispatched a 6,240 unit to Côte d'Ivoire. Regular meetings of the coalition government were held until March 2004. Opposition ministers announced a boycott after the security forces dispersed demonstrations organized by “ A new force. ”(There were casualties). The 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 to be solved, in particular the issue of land ownership in the northern regions. The President promised after the reunification of the country hold a referendum on nationality At a summit of 13 African countries held in late July and early August 2004 in Accra, Ghana, an agreement was reached between the government of Côte d'Ivoire and the rebels to resolve the internal conflict. Force New has pledged to begin disarmament after October 15, 2004, the date for the completion of political reforms agreed in January 2003. But issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and citizenship issues, remain unresolved.

On October 31 and November 28, 2010 in Côte d'Ivoire, the first presidential elections since 2000, which were postponed for almost a decade due to the civil war, finally took place. A total of 14 candidates took part in the elections. None of the candidates managed to gain an absolute majority of the votes. and according to the law, the two candidates with the largest number of votes went to the second round.

In the second round, incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, who received a little over 38% of the vote and enjoys the support of the South of the country, and the leader of the opposition, former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, who enjoys the support of the population of the northern part of the country and who received about 33% of the vote.

On December 2, 2010, the preliminary results of voting were announced, according to which A. Ouattara won 54% of the votes. But immediately the constitutional council 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. USA, France, UN, African Union, Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS), European Union supported Ouattara. In response, Gbabgo ordered the UN peacekeeping forces to leave the country. However, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire until June 30, 2011. The World Bank stopped lending to the country.

The situation of the political crisis in the country was accompanied by riots, the borders were closed, the broadcasting of foreign satellite TV channels was stopped. The number of refugees in 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 background of political instability, the epidemiological situation in the country has also aggravated - outbreaks of yellow fever, malaria and a cholera outbreak in the municipality of Abidjan were recorded.

In 2011, the confrontation between the two leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, again escalated into civil war.

The sluggish conflict escalated sharply in late March - early April 2011. Fierce battles began in the country with numerous casualties. The Gbagbo army began to use heavy weapons against its opponents.

The situation was intervened by a French military contingent located in this former French colony under a UN mandate. The Republican army of Alassane Ouattara, with the support of French troops, took control of the central regions of Abidjan on the night of April 5, 2011 and also seized the presidential palace, where Gbagbo was located. Laurent Gbagbo, along with his son and wife, was arrested by the French military and put into the hands of the opposition.

Allasan Ouattara, after the arrest of Gbagbo, announced the creation of a commission that will investigate allegations of brutality against the civilian population.

Lyubov Prokopenko

COTE D'Ivoire, Republic of Cote d'Ivoire (République de Cote d'Ivoire).

Since the second half of the 20th century, the country's population has increased more than fivefold (3.9 million people in 1960; 20.8 million people in 2008); the average annual rate of natural population growth is declining (2.2% in 2008; 4.4% in 1973-82). The birth rate (32.7 per 1000 inhabitants; 2008) significantly exceeds the mortality rate (11.2 per 1000 inhabitants). The fertility rate is 4.2 children per woman; infant mortality 69.8 per 1000 live births. The age structure is dominated by the working-age population (15-64 years old) - 56.3%, the share of children under 14 years old is 40.9%, people 65 years and older - 2.8%. The average age of the population is 19 years (2008). Average life expectancy is 54.6 years (men - 53.9, women - 55.4 years). The ratio of men and women is approximately equal. The balance of external migration is positive, most of the labor migrants come from neighboring countries (mainly from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea). The average population density is 64.5 people / km 2 (2008; one of the highest in Tropical Africa). The most densely populated is the south of the country (up to 384 people / km 2 in the Abidjan region, 106.2 people / km 2 in the Fromage region). In the northern, economically less developed regions, the average population density is much lower (14.6 people / km 2 in the Dengele region). The share of the urban population is rapidly increasing due to the constant influx of rural residents and immigrants (24% in 1965; 42% in 1985; over 50% in 2008). Large cities (thousand people, 2008): Abidjan (3900), Bouake (624.5), Daloa (234.7), Yamoussoukro (227), Korhogo (200.2), San Pedro (160.2). The economy employs 6.9 million people, of which about 68% in agriculture (2007). Unemployment rate 40% (estimate). 42% of the country's population lives below the poverty line (2006).

3. I. Tokareva.

Religion

About 40% of the population (2006, estimate) of Côte d'Ivoire is Sunni Muslim, about 28% are Christians (including about 19% are Catholics, about 6% are Protestants), about 30% are adherents of traditional cults. There are also adherents of Afro-Christian syncretic cults (Harism, etc.), Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is, etc.

There are 4 metropolises and 11 dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church. The largest Protestant organization is the United Methodist Church of Cote d'Ivoire (founded in 1924, independent status since 1985). Orthodox parishes are under the jurisdiction of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church.

Historical sketch

Côte d'Ivoire before independence. Archaeological finds (the so-called Neolithic workshops along the river banks) testify to the settlement of the Ivory Coast in the Stone Age. In the 3rd-2nd millennia BC, in the savannah zone, and then in the forest zone, the development of agriculture began; in the 1st millennium AD, iron-making, pottery, weaving, and gold mining became widespread. At the beginning of the 2nd millennium, the Senufo peoples who came from the northwest settled here; the city of Kong, founded by them, became one of the largest centers of caravan trade in West Africa. In the 15-16th centuries, the Senufos were pushed to the northwest by the Mandean-speaking peoples (Malinke, Gyula, etc.), who created a state formation with the center in Kong at the beginning of the 18th century. In the 15th century, in the interfluve of the rivers Kamoe and Black Volta, the state of the Abron - Bono people was formed; to the west of the Bandama River - the early state formation of Anya and Baule.

The northern part of the territory of Côte d'Ivoire was included in the sphere of influence of the states of Western Sudan - Ghana, Mali and Sotai.

At the end of the 15th century, Europeans, mainly the Portuguese, began to penetrate the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, exporting ivory from here (the name of the country - Côte d'Ivoire in French means Ivory Coast, BSC), gold and slaves. Colonization of Cote d'Ivoire began in 1637 by French missionaries. In the 1840s, the French established a foothold on the coast of Cote d'Ivoire, and in the 1880s they began to advance inland. Between 1887 and 1889, France imposed a series of so-called allied treaties on the rulers of African states and tribal leaders. In 1892, according to the Franco-Liberian convention, the boundaries of the French possessions and Liberia were determined (subsequently, the decisions of the convention were repeatedly revised in favor of France), in 1893, according to the Franco-British convention, the borders with the British colony of the Gold Coast.

In 1893, the BSC was declared a colony of France (before that, the territories occupied by the French were administratively part of the colony of Senegal), in 1895 it was incorporated into French West Africa. The main branch of the colonial economy of the BSC was the mining industry (mining of gold, diamonds, manganese ore), as well as the development of forest resources; the plantation economy was developed, export crops were cultivated - cocoa, coffee, bananas.

In the late 1930s, trade unions arose in the BSK and public organizations Africans demanding political rights. In October 1946, the BSC received the status of an overseas territory of France (within the framework of the French Community); part of the BSK population began to participate in the elections of representatives to the French parliament, as well as to the general council of the territory, endowed with advisory functions (in 1952 it was transformed into a territorial representative assembly, in 1958 - into a constituent assembly). In 1946, the first party of the African population, the Democratic Party (DP; territorial section of the African Democratic Union), was created, headed by D.F. Houfouet-Boigny. According to the 1956 law, in the development of which Houfouet-Boigny took part, universal suffrage was introduced, the division of voters into two curiae (African and European) was abolished, and the rights of the territorial legislative assembly were expanded. According to the results of the referendum held on September 28, 1958, the BSC received the status of a member state of the French Community. A government was formed, and Houfue-Boigny became its chairman.

Cote d'Ivoire since 1960. The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire was proclaimed on August 7, 1960. It seceded from the French Community, but retained close ties with the former metropolis (in 1961, the government of Côte d'Ivoire signed a number of agreements on economic and military cooperation with France). In November 1960, the country's constitution was adopted. Formally, it did not prohibit the activities of opposition political parties, however, in fact, the DP was recognized as the only party in Côte d'Ivoire, under whose control all trade union and public organizations were placed. In November 1960, the PD won the elections to the National Assembly, at the same time D. F. Houfouet-Boigny was elected president of the republic. Subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections were also held on an uncontested basis. The government pursued a liberal economic policy; a course was taken to attract foreign capital, the development of private entrepreneurship. In the 1960s and 1980s, the rates of economic growth were very high (due to the use of funds received from the export of coffee and cocoa beans), which largely contributed to the maintenance of internal political stability in the republic.

In the 1980s, as a result of falling world prices for coffee and cocoa beans, the country's economy entered a protracted crisis. Inflation, mass unemployment and a sharp drop in the standard of living of the population have led to an increase in anti-government sentiment. In May 1990, D. F. Houfouet-Boigny legalized the activities of opposition political parties and organizations. In the presidential elections on October 28, 1990, he defeated the opposition candidate L.K. Gbagbo.

On the eve of the 1995 presidential elections, the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire adopted an amendment to the constitution, according to which only those who had Ivorian parents (one or both) could run for the presidency. This amendment deprived the leader of the opposition Union of Republicans (founded in 1994 as a result of a split in the Democratic Party) A.D. On October 22, 1995, a representative of the Democratic Party, E. A. K. Bedier, was elected president (other candidates boycotted the elections).

The period of Bedier's presidency was marked by further destabilization of the internal political situation, caused, among other things, by the discriminatory policy of the government towards immigrants (about a quarter of the population of Côte d'Ivoire are immigrants from other countries, mainly from Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, Guinea). In 1999, on the eve of new presidential elections in the capital and other cities of the country, there were massive demonstrations in support of A.D. Ouattara. Taking advantage of the situation, the military, led by retired General R. Guei, staged a coup d'état. The suspension of the constitution, the removal of the president, and the dissolution of the government and parliament were announced. Power passed to the National Committee for Public Safety. In January 2000, a transitional government was formed, in which Guei took over as president of the republic and minister of defense.

On 23 July 2000, the new Constitution of Côte d'Ivoire was approved in a referendum (entered into force on 1.8.2000); the article on the requirements for a presidential candidate remained unchanged. The presidential elections on 10/22/2000 ended with the victory of the leader of the Ivorian Popular Front (INF; created in 1983 in France) L.K. Gbagbo. According to the results of the parliamentary elections (10.12.2000 - 14.1.2001), the INF and the DP received approximately the same number of seats. The elections did not lead to a normalization of the situation in the country. On September 19, 2002, the military seized power in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake and Korhogo. The mutiny was suppressed, but the rebel groups took control of all the northern, as well as part of the central and western regions. Clashes began on ethnic grounds (between Ivorians and immigrants, as well as between representatives of various peoples).

In March 2003, a coalition government of national reconciliation was formed, which included members of the INF, DP, rebel organizations and the Union of Republicans. However, a year later, ministers representing the opposition announced a boycott of the government's work in connection with the dispersal of demonstrations by the security forces of Côte d'Ivoire (over 100 people were killed). In early April 2004, UN military units were dispatched to assist the government in resolving the conflict in the country.

In the summer of 2004, in the city of Accra (Ghana), a summit of the heads of 13 African states was held, at which an agreement was reached between the government of Côte d'Ivoire and the rebels to resolve the internal conflict. However, the situation remained unstable as the opposing sides refused to disarm. Under these conditions, L.K. Gbagbo decided to postpone the presidential elections, which were originally planned to be held in 2005 (later they were postponed several times). In early March 2007, in the capital of Burkina Faso, the city of Ouagadougou, negotiations between Gbagbo and the leader of the Ivorian opposition forces GK Soro ended. The parties signed an agreement providing for the creation of a new transitional government of the country headed by Soro (formed on 7.4.2007). The government of Côte d'Ivoire is tasked with disarming rebel groups, rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, resolving ethnic conflicts, and ensuring the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Côte d'Ivoire were established in 1967 (interrupted by the government of Côte d'Ivoire in 1969, restored in 1986). The trade turnover between the two countries is 153.2 million US dollars (2004). The Russian Federation has consistently advocated a political settlement of the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire.

Lit .: Blokhin L.F. Ivory Coast. M., 1967; Tokareva Z. M. Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. Directory. M., 1990; Encyclopedia of African peoples. N. Y. 2000; Coulibaly A. A. Le système politigue ivoirien: de la colonie a la Pe République. R., 2002; Countries and regions of the world. 3rd ed. M., 2009.

Farm

The economy of Côte d'Ivoire is based on agriculture. Since the early 2000s, the economic situation has worsened due to internal political instability. Since 2004, the World Bank stopped lending to Côte d'Ivoire. The country's development prospects are associated with diversifying the economy, increasing the role of the private sector, attracting foreign investment, and overcoming poverty.

The volume of GDP is 33.1 billion dollars (at purchasing power parity; 2007); per capita 1.7 thousand dollars. Human Development Index 0.432 (2005; 166th place among 177 countries of the world). Real GDP growth of 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 service sector accounts for 50%, Agriculture- 28%, industry - 22%.

Industry... An important role is played by hydrocarbon production in the eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea shelf. The total volume of oil production (started in 1980) is 52 thousand barrels / day (2007; 15 thousand barrels / day in 2002). The largest fields (2007): Espuar (28.1 thousand barrels / day), Baobab (21.1 thousand barrels / day), Lyon (1.9 thousand barrels / day). The production is carried out primarily under the control of the state-owned Société Nationale d'Operations Petroliéres de la Côte d'Ivoire (Petroci). About 60% of oil is exported, of which 2/3 - to the countries of Western Europe (mainly to Germany) and Canada.

Natural gas has been produced since the early 1990s (16 billion cubic meters in 2002; 22 billion cubic meters in 2006). Leading companies: Foxtrot International, Petroci, Energy de Сôte d'Ivoire, etc. All gas is used domestically (the main consumer is the power industry).

Electricity needs are fully covered by their own fuel resources. The installed capacity of power plants is 1.1 thousand MW (2005). Electricity production 5.3 billion kWh, exports 1.1 billion kWh (2006). Most of the generated energy is produced at thermal power plants (they work at natural gas). The largest TPP is Azito in the Abidjan region (1999; installed capacity 288 MW, over 1/3 of the generated electricity). About 1/5 of electricity is produced at hydroelectric power plants; the most important are Ayame I and Ayame II on the Biot River, Kossou and Taabo on the Bandama River, Viuo on the Sasandra River.

The country's only refinery of the Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR) company is located in Abidjan (capacity 65 thousand barrels / day; 47.3% of the shares are owned by the state). A second refinery is under construction (since 2008, commissioning in 2011) in the Abidjan region (capacity 60 thousand barrels / day). Export of petroleum products to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger.

Gold is mined (1.3 tons in 2006, 3.6 tons in 2002; Iti and Subre deposits; the largest companies are the French La Mancha Resources Inc. and the state-owned Société pour le Développement Minier en Cote d'Ivoire), diamonds (300 thousand carats in 2006; Tortia and Seguela regions in the north and west of the country).

There are small metallurgical and metalworking enterprises (production of steel sheets from imported billets, metal roofing materials, fittings, pipes, wire, etc. in Abidjan), factories for the assembly of cars, motorcycles, bicycles and household electrical products (Abidjan), numerous chemical enterprises ( production of paints and varnishes and plastics, perfumery and cosmetics, household chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.), a cellulose plant (San Pedro; about 200 thousand tons of cellulose per year), two textile mills (Bouake and Dimbokro; mainly cotton fabrics from local cotton and a small amount - synthetic fabrics from imported raw materials). There are several small leather and shoe factories, a match factory (60-100 million boxes per year), shipbuilding and ship repair yards (in Abidjan). The logging and woodworking industries are developing rapidly (about 600 thousand m 3 of sawn timber per year); most of the enterprises are concentrated in the southern regions of the country. The production of building materials plays a significant role in the economy. Extraction of sand, gravel, limestone and other construction materials is carried out. There is a ceramic factory in Abidjan. The food industry is of great importance. The main products of numerous small businesses are palm oil, cocoa butter, instant coffee, canned pineapples and fruit juices, and canned fish. Large flour and bakery factories are located in Abidjan and San Pedro.

Agriculture... The leading industry is crop production. Along with modern agrotechnical methods (especially in plantation farms), a system of shift farming is practiced. 10% of the country's territory is processed (constantly about 4%), of which about 1/2 falls on the planting of cocoa. Cocoa d'Ivoire ranks 1st in the world for the production of cocoa beans (over 1 million tons in 2005; an average of about 46% of world production; 15% of the value of GDP). Also of export importance are coffee (collection of 130.8 thousand tons of green beans in 2005; 11th place in the world, mainly robusta variety, about 5% - Arabica), peanuts (72.5 thousand tons); cashew nuts (59 thousand tons; 7th place in the world), bananas (36.1 thousand tons), pineapples (34.8 thousand tons; 18th place in the world), sugar cane (22.8 thousand tons), coconuts, avocado, mango, cotton. Significant areas are occupied by oil palm plantations (cultivated for the production of palm oil), under the plantations of hevea. Cote d'Ivoire is Africa's largest producer of natural rubber (72.4 thousand tons in 2005; 8th place in the world). Major food crops (collection, thousand tons; 2005); yam 605, plantain 299, rice 245, cassava 108, corn 106. Livestock raising is developed mainly in the northern regions, in the central and southern regions it is focal. The livestock (thousand heads; 2005) is dominated by goats and sheep - 2,700; cattle 1500, pigs 333.

One of the promising industries is fishing. The annual catch is about 70 thousand tons (mainly tuna and sardines).

Transport... Cote d'Ivoire has an extensive road network, its density is especially high in the southern regions. The length of highways is 80 thousand km, including 6.5 thousand km with hard surface (2006). Road transport ensures the delivery of almost all export products to the points of export on the coast and the transportation of imported goods to various regions of the country. Cote d'Ivoire is connected with Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and Nigeria by roads along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The length of the only railway (Abidjan - border with Burkina Faso) is 660 km; the volume of passenger and cargo transportation is decreasing due to the increasing competition with road transportation. The seaports are Abidjan (cargo turnover of about 19 million tons per year, the largest in West Africa; provides over 90% of foreign trade traffic) and San Pedro (mainly export of timber and lumber). 7 airports have paved runways (2007). International airports are in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro and Bouaké.

International trade... The value of merchandise exports is $ 18.5 billion, imports - $ 6.1 billion (2007). In the commodity structure of exports, agricultural products dominate: cocoa beans (about 30% of the value) and cocoa products, coffee, cotton, rubber, palm oil, fruits; about 25% of the export value is provided by oil and oil products. Other goods include timber and lumber, canned fish. Major buyers (2006): Germany (9.7% of value), Nigeria (9.1%), Netherlands (8.4%), France (7.3%), USA (7%), Burkina Faso (4 ,4%). Côte d'Ivoire imports oil and oil products (over 33% of the cost), machinery and equipment, vehicles, food. The main suppliers of goods are Nigeria (30.5% of the cost), France (16.4%), China (6.7%).

Lit .: Pasco Bakayolo M. Сôte d'Ivoire: démocratie en peine, rien ne va plus en Afrique. R., 2005; Koffi Koffi P. La défi du développement en Сôte d'Ivoire. R., 2008.

3. I. Tokareva.

Armedstrength

The Armed Forces (BC) of Côte d'Ivoire consists of the Ground Forces (Land Forces), the Air Force, the Navy, the Presidential Guard and the Gendarmerie (over 17.1 thousand people; 2007), and there are also paramilitaries - the police (1.5 thousand people ; 2007). Annual military budget $ 300 million (2007).

The supreme commander in chief is the president, who directs the BC through the Department of Defense and the BC headquarters. The ground forces (6.5 thousand people) include 4 military areas, 1 tank and 3 infantry battalions, a separate artillery battalion, an airborne group, an engineering company and an anti-aircraft artillery battery. In service with 15 tanks (including 5 light), 31 armored personnel carriers, 25 armored personnel carriers, 4105-mm howitzers, 16 120-mm mortars, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. The Air Force (700 people) includes a fighter, transport, communications and helicopter squadron (several aircraft and helicopters, including 4 combat aircraft). The Navy (950 people) includes several landing and patrol 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.

BC recruitment on the basis of universal compulsory military service for males at the age of 18, as well as selectively under contract. The training of officers and non-commissioned officers is carried out mainly in France. Some junior officers are trained at the national military school and at the flight school in Bouaké. Mobilization resources 4 million people, including 2.1 million fit for military service. In 1961, France and Côte d'Ivoire signed an agreement on joint defense (French troops are deployed - about 3.8 thousand people).

V.D. Nesterkin.

Health care

In Côte d'Ivoire, there are 12 doctors, 60 nurses, 2 dentists, 6 pharmacists per 100 thousand inhabitants (2004). Total expenditures on health care are 3.9% of GDP (2005) (budgetary funding - 27.6%, private sector- 72.4%) (2003). The legal regulation of the health care system is carried out by the Law on the Protection of Public Health and the Environment from the Action of Industrial and Radioactive Wastes (1988). The health care system includes urban private medical and dental institutions. In the countryside health care limited in volume and quality due to lack of personnel. The most common infections are bacterial dysentery, hepatitis A, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasis (2008). The main causes of death of the adult population: AIDS, malaria, lower respiratory tract diseases, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, injuries, cancer (2004). Seaside climatic resort Gran-Basam.

V.S. Nechaev.

Sport

The National Olympic Committee was founded in 1962, recognized by the IOC in 1963. Athletes from Côte d'Ivoire take part in Olympic Games from 1964 (except 1980); the only award was won by the athlete G. Tyakokh, who took 2nd place in the 400 m race (Los Angeles, 1984). The Ministry of Youth and Sports was established in 1960. In the 1960s, the first sports federations were created in the country and a number of national championships were held.

The most popular sports are judo, boxing, football, handball, athletics, kayaking and canoeing. The national football team of Côte d'Ivoire plays successfully in international competitions - winner (1992) and finalist (2006) of the African Cup, participant in the final part of the World Cup in Germany (2006). The strongest footballers of the country play in the leading European clubs: D. Drogba - in the London Chelsea champion of England (2005, 2006); A.K. Keita - Champion of France with Lyon (2008); K. H. Touré - at Arsenal (London, since 2002); his brother J. Touré - in Barcelona (since 2007); B. Sanogo - in Werder Bremen (Bremen, since 2007) and others. Goalkeeper A. Guamene participated in 7 African Cup competitions.

V. I. Linder.

Education. Institutions of science and culture

Educational institutions are managed by the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research. The network of preschool institutions is poorly developed, they mainly function in large cities... The education system includes (2008) compulsory free 6-year primary education for children from 6 years of age, 7-year secondary (4-year incomplete and 3-year full) education in state and non-state educational institutions (colleges and lyceums), vocational -technical education (on the basis of primary and incomplete high school) in apprenticeship centers and technical lyceums, higher professional education. Preschool education covers 3% of children, initial training- 71%, average - 32%. The literacy rate of the population over the age of 15 is 62.1% (2006). The system of higher professional education includes: University of Cocody; University of d'Abobo-Ajame (both in Abidjan); University of Bouaké - all universities spun off in 1995 from the National University (founded in 1958 as the Center higher education in Abidjan), the National Polytechnic Institute (1996) in Yamoussoukro, the National School of Management (1960), the National Graduate School of Fine Arts (1963), both in Abidjan; National School of Engineering (1963), Graduate School of Agronomy (1996) - both in Yamoussoukro. The main museums, libraries, scientific institutions are located in Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo.

Mass media

Leading periodicals: daily government newspapers Fraternité Matin (published since 1964, circulation 25 thousand copies), Ivoir 'Soir (since 1987, 10 thousand copies); the monthly government gazette "Journal Officiel de la République de Cote d'Ivoire" (since 1958, 25 thousand copies); independent daily newspapers Le Jour (since 1994), Le Patriote (since 1991), La Nouvelle République, Notre Voie; the monthly magazine "Eburnea" (since 1967) (all - in the city of Abidjan, in French), etc. Radio broadcasting since 1949 (since 1951 regularly), television since 1963. Television and radio broadcasts (in French and local languages) are carried out public service "Radiodiffusion-Тélévision Ivoirienne" and others. National news agency - Agence Ivoirienne de Presse (AIP; created in 1961).

Literature

The literature of Côte d'Ivoire is developed in French. In the 1930s, national drama was born. In 1938, the "Native Theater" was created, where plays were staged everyday, historical, and also raising the topic of colonial exploitation (works of BB Dadier, F. Zh. Amon d'Abi, and others). In 1952, the People's Academy of Literature and Poetry was established, and in 1962, the national Association of French Writers. The flowering of drama began after gaining independence. In the 1960s and 70s, a heroic-historical drama appeared. The influence of French classicism marked E. Dervin's dilogy: the drama Saran, or the Criminal Queen, in which the image of a wise African ruler, politician and commander was created, and Language and Scorpio (both 1968). Sh. Nokan in the play "Woe Chaco" (1968) posed the problem of the ruler and the people; The socio-utopian play "Abraa Poku, or the Great African Woman" (1970) was based on the legend about the origin of the Baul people. The struggle of the African peoples against the colonialists was reflected in the plots of the epic dramas Beatrice of the Congo (1970) and The Isle of the Storm (1973) by Dadier, whose work is also associated with the emergence of the satirical comedy (Mr. Togo-Nyini, 1970; Mua-Sel ", 1979). The heroization of the historical past is at the heart of the play "Sofa" by B. Zadi Zauru (1975).

Poetry and prose began to flourish in the 1950s. A vivid example of revolutionary anti-colonial poetry: the collections "Africa at full height" (1950), "People of all continents" (1967) by BB Dadier; The Harsh Appeal of Hope by J. M. Bonnini (1961). In the 1970s, the tendencies of romanticizing the past of Africa were evident in poetry (the works of B. Zadi Zauru, A. Kanie). The formation of prose is also associated with the name of Dadier: the collection "African Legends" (1954), the book of fairy tales based on folklore "Black Bandage" (1955); the autobiographical novel "Clembier" (1956) and others. The theme of the collapse of the illusions of a "man of two cultures" is revealed in the novel "Kokumbo - a black student" by A. Loba (1960). The novels "The Black Dawn Is Occupied" (1962) and "The Wind Was Strong" (1966) by Sh. Nokan are distinguished by their acuteness of anti-colonial pathos, romantic pathos, stylistic syncretism (a combination of lyricism and publicism). In the 1970s, narrative novels began to spread, in which traditional African values ​​came to the fore. In the mainstream of negritude - the novels "The Boy from Bouake" by M. Konet (1963), "Ouzzy" by J. Dodo, "Masseni" by T. Dema, "The Subdued Pyro" by P. du Prey (all - 1977). "Black" description of everyday life, the depiction of the gloomy phenomena of the traditional African society (magic, witchcraft, secret societies) is characteristic of the novel "At the Threshold of the Unreal" by A. Kone (1976). In the intellectual novel-parable "Identity Card" by J. M. Adiaffi (1980), a call is expressed in a symbolic form to restore the ties that had been cut off by the colonialists with the spiritual and cultural heritage of their ancestors. An example of a highly artistic synthesis of the individual author's ironic style, elements of the oral tradition of the Malinke people and modern novel technique was the work of A. Kuruma ("Monne, or the Humiliated Challenge", 1990; "Waiting for the vote of wild animals", 1998, etc.).

Lit .: Lyakhovskaya Ya.D. Poetry of West Africa. M., 1975; she is. Features of the formation and development of drama in the French-speaking literatures of Tropical Africa // Development of genres in contemporary literatures Africa. M., 1983; she is. Literature of Cote d'Ivoire // French-language literatures of Tropical Africa. M., 1989; Lezou G. D. Creations romanesques devant les transformations actuelles en Сôte d'Ivoire. Dakar, 1978; Makouta-Mboukou J. P. Introduction à l'etude du roman négro-africain de langue française. 2ed. Dakar, 1983; Writers of Côte d'Ivoire: Bibliographic Index. M., 1988.

Ya.D. Lyakhovskaya.

Architecture and fine arts

The peoples of the southern, forested part of the country build rectangular dwellings with a roof of palm branches. Among the Baule and Anyi peoples, the houses are oval in plan and are surrounded by a canopy. In the northwest, round houses with conical thatched roofs are common. This type of dwelling in the east of the country is being replaced by adobe rectangular houses 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 rooms. The walls of houses are often painted with geometric patterns, figures of people and animals.

After the proclamation of independence, 1-4-storey residential buildings began to be built; multi-storey buildings are under construction, uniting located in the lower part shopping center, hotel, restaurants and buildings of apartments or offices: the center "Nur al-Hayat" (architects A. Lazhe, J. P. Lupi, J. Mae), the office complex "La Pyramid" with aluminum trim (architect R. Olivieri, engineer R. Morandi; both in Abidjan, 1960-70s), an airport near Abidjan (1969, architects M. Ducharm, J. Moreau, J. P. Minot), the Hotel Cascades in Mans (1969, Ducharm , K. Larra, Mino); SCIAM administrative building in Abidjan (1975, J. Semichon) in an international style. Some hotels (in Sassandra, architect Benoit-Barnet; in Asini, architects J. Semichon, L. Renard, A. C. Vee) are stylized as huts with thatched roofs. Cultural centers have been created in Abidjan and Bouaké, covered markets. Reinforced concrete and glass are used in the construction; local artisans are involved in the finishing work. In the 1970s, OK Kakub developed the general plan of the city of Yamoussoukro and built a complex of public buildings in the forms of brutalism: the Congress Palace, the President's Palace, the President Hotel, the buildings of the City Hall and the Houfue-Boigny Foundation. In the 1980s, Catholic churches were erected: the Cathedral of St. Paul in Abidjan (1985, architect A. Spirito) with elements of postmodernism, the grandiose Cathedral of Notre Dame de la Pe in Yamoussoukro (1986-89, architect P. Fakhuri; building repeats the composition of the Cathedral of St. Peter in the Vatican); both buildings are decorated with stained glass windows.

Painting as an independent art form appeared in Côte d'Ivoire only in the 1960s. Among the artists of this period were M. Codio and E. J. Santoni; both were educated in France. At the turn of the 1980-1990s, J. Bat gained fame, in whose works the techniques of abstraction are combined with the local ornamental tradition. A special place in artistic life is occupied by representatives of naive art (Z. Macré, F. Bruly-Bouabré), who continue the craft tradition of making signs. The most famous sculptor is K. Lattier, who worked in France and at home; creates works of metal, basket weaving elements, ropes and fabrics. S. Dogo Yao is engaged in ceramic sculpture in the spirit of baule traditions for the design of architectural structures; K. Murufier also works in this genre. Woodcarving (masks, figurines of people), processing of gold, bronze and copper, weaving are developed. Pottery production is concentrated in the Katiola region, the Seguela region is famous for its elegant canari vessels, in the Korhogo region, spherical pots and huge grain tanks are made. The traditional painting of houses is developing.

Lit .: Castel J. Inventaire des formes de representation graphique en Сôte d'Ivoire et propositions d'exploitation. Abidjan,; Architecture coloniale en Cote d'Ivoire. Abidjan, 1985; L'Art des enseignes. Abidjan, 1985; Lerat J.-M. Chez bonne idé: Images du petit commerce en Afrique de l'Ouest. R., 1986; Blanditi A. Bronzes et autres alliages: Afrique de l᾿Ouest. Marignane, 1988; Magiciens de la terre. ... R., 1989; Contemporary African artists: Changing tradition. ... N. Y. 1990; Boyer A.-M. Arts premiers de Cote d'Ivoire. Saint-Maur, 1997; Bonneau R. Ecrivains, cinéastes et artistes ivoiriens: Aperçu bio-bibliographique. Abidjan, 1973.

V. L. Voronina, E. N. Silversvan.

Music

The musical culture is typical of West Africa; represented by professional traditions dan, malinke (mandingo group), baule, ve (kru group), senufo. U Dan music is singled out as an independent branch of traditional culture, its connection with cult practice has been largely preserved (the origin of music is associated with the world of spirits; for magical purposes, begbo masks that distort the voice are used). Professional musicians are united in associations, specialization is inherited; the skill of singers-improvisers is still highly valued (solo singing is accompanied by playing the harp, lamellaphone). Music is an integral part of initiation ceremonies, rituals preceding the hunt, etc. The drumming accompanies the labor actions of farmers, wrestling competitions and dances. Malinke's caste of professional singers and musicians - jeli (griots; accompany themselves on bark, xylophone, harp, etc.); Among the socially significant functions of the jeli are parting words to the soldiers and their glorification. Professional music also has a high status in the public life of the baule: songs in honor of deities and ancestral spirits are widespread; in judicial practice, drums are used, which are considered intermediaries between people and the spirits of ancestors; at public meetings, accompanied by drums and signal idiophones, they sing poetic texts and proverbs. Baule is characterized by two voices (singing and playing instruments in parallel thirds).

In the signaling function of u ve, the so-called talking drums are used; they also play songs of praise to the leaders and soldiers. Senufo has no caste of musicians, but music has great importance in the rituals of male and female secret societies; especially interesting songs of initiation rites, which are accompanied by large instrumental ensembles. Leisure forms of playing music are widespread in cities. Music education and the study of traditional music are concentrated in Abidjan.

A. S. Alpatova.

Theater, dance

The national theatrical tradition has its origins in the art of the Griots. In 1938, graduates of the W. Ponty School (Dakar) organized the "Indigenous Theater" in Abidjan, which paid special attention to plays directed against the charlatanism of sorcerers ("Bussatier, or The Secret of the Black Sorcerer" by F.J. Amon d'Abi, 1939, and others. ). In the early 1940s, satirical performances by G. Coffey (one of the founders of the African theater) appeared based on his own plays - Our Wives (1940) and My Husband (1941); in 1943 he staged his anti-colonial play The Song Returns. In 1953, the "Aboriginal Theater" was transformed into the "Cultural and Folklore Circle", which took a prominent place in the cultural life of all of West Africa. The repertoire included plays of everyday life and history (including "Crown at Auction" by Amon d'Abi, "Ihaonda" by Coffey, "The Adventures of a Goat" by D. Makhaman). In 1958, the Ivory Coast Theater Society was founded under the leadership of K. Nguan. At this time, plays by local playwrights were widely staged ("The Rural Witch" by M. Berthe, "Termites" by E. Derven, and others). The Masks and Balafons troupe of the University of Abidjan enjoyed success. In 1959, the School of Dramatic Art was opened in Abidjan, which was later transformed into a theater school at the National Institute of Arts (created in 1967). Among the significant performances of this period: "Three applicants, one husband" G. Oyono Mbia (1968), "Mr. Togo-Nyini" by BB Dadier (1970), "Tussio" by G. Deman-Go (1971). In 1971 the comedy "The Inspector General" by N. V. Gogol was staged on the Abidjan stage. In the 1980s and early 2000s, productions by the playwright and director M. Ekissi were popular (The Time of the Red Berets, 1988; The Tragedy of King Christophe, 1993; The Cruel Holiday, 1999; My Name is Brahima, 2001). One of the greatest theatrical figures of Cote d'Ivoire at the beginning of the 21st century is the actor and director S. Bakaba. Since 1993, the International Arts Festival has been held in Ivory Coast every 2 years.

Dance performances based on folklore are especially popular in Côte d'Ivoire. In 1974, the Ivory Coast National Ballet was founded in Abidjan. The most famous dance groups: "Mantche" (1998), "Jigiya" (1999), "Duncan" (2006), "1 Somniak" (2008). Among the performers (early 2000s) - A.B.Bamba, A. Drame, K. Mamadi.

Lit .: Lvov N.I. Modern Theater of Tropical Africa. M., 1977; Lvova E. S. Ethnography of Africa. M., 1984; The world encyclopedia of contemporary theater / Ed. D. Rubin. N. Y., 2000. Vol. 3: Africa; A history of theater in Africa / Ed. M. Banham. Camb., 2004.

G.M.Sidorova.

Cinema

The emergence of national cinema is associated with the name of T. Basori, who in the 1960s shot the short films On the Dunes of Loneliness, The Sixth Furrow, Fire in a Bar, and others. In 1969 he also released the first national full-length film A Woman with a Knife ”, Which touched upon the issues of correlation between African and Western civilizations. In the 1970s, the problems of national reality were reflected in the films "Amanye" and "Hat" by R. M'Bala and "Cry of the Muezzin" by E. N'Dabian Vodio. In the 1980s, the country released the films “A Man from Afar” by M. Traote, “Jelly” by K. Lansike Fedike, “AnjaTio” by J. L. Kula, “Dalokan” by M. Dos, “Healers” by S. Bakaba. In 1983 the film "Petanqui" by I. Kozoloa was released (jointly with Nigeria). The Exotic Comedy by K. Touré (1985), about the life of the traditional Senufo society, aroused significant audience interest. The most famous filmmakers are directors D. Ecaré (Concert for an Exile, 1968; France for the Two of Us, 1970; Faces of Women, 1985) and A. Duparc (Muna, or an Artist's Dream, 1969; Family ", 1972;" Wild grass ", 1977;" I chose life ", 1987;" Ball in a cloud of dust ", 1988;" Sixth finger ", 1990;" Coffee color ", 1998), raising in their works actual moral and public themes and tragicomedy genre. In 1974 the Association of Professional Filmmakers of Côte d'Ivoire was formed (part of the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers). Since 1969 films from Côte d'Ivoire have participated in the All-African Film Festival (FESPACO) in Ouagadougou.

Lit .: Cinematography of foreign countries. M., 1996; Shakhov A.S. Duparc A .; Ekare D. // Cinema of Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America: Director's Encyclopedia. M., 2001.

A.S.Shakhov.