Ivory Coast (english)

The Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is a state in West Africa. It borders Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and in the south the Atlantic Ocean.

The country has been politically stable since its independence. A relative prosperity was guaranteed by exporting cocoa and coffee. However, internal tensions led to the end of political stability, and as the economy became unstable as a result of the decline in cocoa expeditions, the conflicts escalated and led to a civil war-like state that tore the country in two. Since the peace treaty of 2007, the reconciliation and reunion of the Ivory Coast has been working. Since then it has once again become one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.

Since 1983 Yamoussoukro is the official capital. The seat of government is located in the former capital Abidjan, which continues to be the economic and political center of the country.

Many Ivorians live abroad, although their exact number is not ascertainable since a large proportion of them have emigrated illegally to their countries of residence. About 1.5 million Ivorians are being estimated to live abroad . Desired goals of Ivorian emigrants are France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, the USA and Canada.

As in other African countries, espacially young men leave their home country. Many of them emigrated as a result of the great crisis of 2002, but in many cases they often still see themselves forced to leave the country to feed their families, even though the Ivory Cost`s potential ist that great.

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