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Flag of Côte d'Ivoire
Background:
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Côte d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states. Falling cocoa prices and political turmoil, however, sparked an economic downturn in 1999 and 2000.
On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Côte d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE.
Presidential and legislative elections held in October and December 2000 provoked violence due to the exclusion of opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA.
In October 2000, Laurent GBAGBO replaced junta leader Robert GUEI as president, ending 10 months of military rule.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)
related countries:
France
border countries:
Burkina Faso
,
Ghana
,
Guinea
,
Liberia
,
Mali
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