Cote d’Ivoire is a presidential republic, whereby the President of Côte d’Ivoire is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The official capital since 1983 is Yamoussoukro; however, Abidjan remains the administrative center. Most countries maintain their embassies in Abidjan, although some (including the United Kingdom) have closed their missions because of the continuing violence and attacks on Europeans. The National Assembly has 225 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. It passes on legislation typically introduced by the president although it also can introduce legislation. Côte d’Ivoire is a one party dominant state with the Ivorian People’s Front in power.
According to the constitution, which dates from 1959, the President of the National Assembly assumes the presidency in the event of a vacancy, and he completes the remainder of the deceased president’s term. The cabinet is selected by and is responsible to the president. Changes are being proposed to some of these provisions, to extend term of office to 7 years, establish a senate, and make president of the senate interim successor to the president. The prime minister is usually appointed by the president. The current prime minister, however, is appointed by the international community transitional Prime Minister following a resolution of the UN Security Council and a resolution of the African Union. The current president is Laurent Gbagbo; the prime minister is Guillaume Soro.[1]
In 2002 soldiers seized control of the northern half of the country in a failed coup. After France intervened, a power-sharing government was set up in 2003. But civil war resumed after forces loyal to Mr Gbagbo bombed the rebel-held north in November 2004. Ivorian leaders signed a peace deal in 2005, but Mathias Doué, a renegade general, continued to stir trouble. Another peace deal, struck in March 2007, offers the best chance yet for ending the conflict, though by July further violence threatened the plan.[2]
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_C%C3%B4te_d%27Ivoire
[2] http://www.economist.com/research/backgrounders/displaybackgrounder.cfm?bg=1375761
December 10th, 2000 and January 14th, 2001 National Assembly Elections of Cote d’Ivoire
| Party | % | Seats |
| Ivorian Popular Front | n/a | 96 |
| Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire | n/a | 94 |
| Rally of the Republicans | boycott | 5 |
| Ivorian Workers’ Party | n/a | 4 |
| Union of Democrats of Cote d’Ivoire | n/a | 1 |
| Movement of Future Forces | n/a | 1 |
| Non-partisans | n/a | 22 |
| Vacancies | n/a | 2 |
Facts and Figures:
| Population | 18,013,409 (July 2007 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998) |
| Religions
|
Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40%, Christian 20-30% (2001) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%) |
| Capital | Yamoussoukro |
| Languages
|
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken |
| GDP (PPP) | $29.05 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $1,600 (2006 est.) |
| Exports
|
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish |
| Imports | fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs |
| Unemployment | 13% in urban areas (1998) |
| Population below poverty line | 37% (1995) |
Source: CIA World Factbook
