Cote+d'Lvoire

Sua Yoon Mr. Mettee European Studies 03/30/11    Ivory Coast During the nineteenth century, ivory was the most coveted treasure of the Europeans. The Western civilization rampantly colonized Africa in hopes of acquiring the most profit while disregarding African culture, values and tribal distinctions. Ivory Coast was no exception to this extensive ivory exploiting. Europeans were lured to the lush elephant population in Ivory Coast. However, due to over-hunting, the elephant were reduced to near extinction. This rapid wane in ivory source halted ivory trade in Ivory Coast by the 18th Century, and forced Ivory Coast to rely on cacao bean exports (Hunt). Yet the real damage to Ivory Coast’s economy and nationhood was inflicted after the French imperialism. France has attempted since 1687 to occupy Ivory Coast, but it wasn’t until 1893 that it was declared a French colony. Even so, Ivory Coast was not under full French authority until 1915 (The World Book 1084a). In spite of the long attempted colonization, the French imperialism over the Ivory Coast was not long-lived. “When they realized France’s expansionist intentions, Africans in the [Ivory Coast] began offering resolute resistance” (Encyclopedia of African). The Ivoirians employed “guerilla tactics to fight the French for most of the 1890s” (Hunt). In 1944, the resistance led by Felix Houphouet-Boigny finally overpowered the French. At this time, France offered a choice to the Ivoirians: “to join the French Community as a self-governing republic or opt for complete independence and sever all ties with France” (Hunt). With their adamant stand against French imperialism, the Ivoirians declared their independence in 1960. Although the Ivoirians opted to become an independent country, France irresponsibly left Ivory Coast without any guide to becoming a strong nation. During the beginning of its independency, Ivory Coast thrived. After adopting the “Structural Adjustment reforms recommended by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund” in 1981, Ivory Coast yielded budget surpluses and astounding economic growth (Hunt). Ivory Coast soon became a beacon of opulence to other Africans, but not for long. While the successful declaration of independence gained their acknowledgement as “the most sustained resistance to French colonialism,” Ivory Coast increasingly became “one of France’s most loyal clients” in the post-colonial era (Appiah 158). This is because, although the colonial rule lasted for only forty-five years, the French bureaucracy’s influence shook the native’s “traditional African leadership,” leaving only the “French appointed rulers with no previous rights to power” (Encyclopedia of African). Without any legitimate leader or structure guiding the Ivory Coast through the process of independence, the instable government was forced to remain independent only in title. Since its independence in 1960, the Ivory Coast has only had four individuals possessing the title “leader.” The first elected president was Felix Houphouet-Boigny rose to power by leading the Ivoirians into independence “by organizing the African Agricultural Union [which] eventually transformed into the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (Parti Democratique de la Cote d’Ivoire, PDCI)” (Hunt). Houphouet-Boigny, who was in title for thirty years, only relinquished his place due to his death in 1993. After Houphouet-Boigny’s death, Henri Konan-Bedie and his PDCI party won the election in the subsequent two years. However, Konan-Bedie was “toppled in a military coup and General Robert Guei seized the presidency” (Nations of the World 405). General Guei accomplished this feat by “banning Alassane Ouattara the northern Muslim leader from standing in the forthcoming presidential election.” Enraged, Ouattara assembled a political party named Rally of the Republic. The growing protests between the factions threw Ivory Coast into an “inter-communal tension between the Muslim north and Christian south,” causing civil unrest that eventually led to a war in 2002. Konan-Bedie, General Guei and Ouattara’s attempts at seizing power, the three only left a civil unrest between the north and the south. Additionally, their affiliation with religion only agitated the national instability of the Ivory Coast. In 2000, “Laurent Gbagbo declared himself president” and remained in power until December 4th, 2010 (405). Following this presidential debacle, the Ivory Coast has remained without a leader. Although France had not left Ivory Coast with a menacing dictator, it had not left a clear electoral process for political stability. Ivory Coast began the 21st century with civil unrest and constant riots. Because of the dispute between Konan-Bedie, General Guei and Ouattara, which caused a religious tension, the Ivory Coast experienced a civil war between the north and the south in 2002 (Hunt). The Country was divided between the Muslim north and the Christian south with Ouattara leading the Muslims. During these trifling times, France offered neither aid to Ivory Coast in its war nor offer guidance to the panicking civilians. This lack of help and tension inevitably released a stream of riots. When unchecked violence unleashed into the streets, both General Guei and Ouattara hoped to alleviate and appeal for calm through national television. However, “by the end of 2002 Ivory Coast was fully enveloped in civil war, with rebels controlling the north and the government [controlling] the south” (Hunt). A peace treaty was finally signed in 2003, but this tragic war took many lives and caused further political instability as well as uncertainty throughout the Ivory Coast. The war also drained the country’s economy, leaving the once called “beacon of opulence” dwindling. Currently, the presidential seat is in discussion. In the election held after the civil war, Ouattara won by a ninety-point margin according to the // New York Times //. Yet on the following day, “the head of the Constitutional Council (Laurent Gbagbo), who is a close ally of the president, threw out vote totals from parts of the north – the strong hold of Mr. Ouattara – because of what he called ‘flagrant irregularities,’ leading both men to claim the presidency” (New York Times). Ouattara remains under the protection of United Nations while Gbagbo assumed himself as the president through his military support. With both Ouattara and Gbagbo fighting against each other with open fire on the streets, at least 700,000 people have fled the country (New York Times). The // New York Times // also states that currently, “investors have pulled out; jobs have vanished [and] more than four million young men are unemployed” in Ivory Coast(New York Times). The dissension is causing Ivory Coast to slowly wither the already damaged economy, and the lack of structure provided by France has left Ivory Coast in a greater governmental conundrum that remains unalleviated regardless of a recent civil war.  Overall, France left the Ivory Coast barehanded. Since their independence, Ivory Coast only possessed its strong will against imperialism. When governmental issues such as elections and political competition, the Ivoirians were forced to turn to violence because they lacked the ministerial knowledge and aid from France. The riots and tension grew increasingly ominous until finally a civil war erupted in 2002. This civil war was left to the hands of Ivoirians again. While France continuously remain unaffiliated with the chaos occurring in Ivory Coast, the current dissension between Ouattara and Gbagbo is claiming more deaths and is ebbing away the Ivoirian economy. Despite this recent civil war and presidential debacle, not much is improving with the international attention focused on Libya and the Japanese tsunami. Until today, Ivory Coast still remains floundering for a governmental structure and economic stability until today.   Works Cited  Appiah, Kwame Anthony, and Henry Louise Gates. “Cote d’Ivoire.” //Africana//. Print.  “Cote d’Ivoire.” //Nations of the World//. 10th ed. Print.  “Cote d’Ivoire.” //The World Book Encyclopedia//. Print.  Hunt, Davis R. “Ivory Coast, Post-Independence.” //Encyclopedia of African History and Culture//. 2005. //Modern World History Online//. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.  - - -. “Ivory Coast through 1960.” //Encyclopedia of African History and Culture//. //Modern World History Online//. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.  “Ivory Coast.” //New York Times// 28 Mar. 2011: n. pag. //The New York Times//. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.