History & Politics
Emergence of states
Little is known about Ivory Coast’s first inhabitants, since the country’s humid climate is not ideal for preserving human remains. However, weapon and tool fragments confirm the presence of early settlements in this part of Africa.
Between 1000 to 1500 AD, Muslim merchants established trade routes across northern Africa and journeyed to Ivory Coast for gold, ivory and slaves. A number of kingdoms emerged during this time, including the Senufo people at Kong and the Dyula people, gold traders and craftsmen.
In the late 17th century, Bounkani migrants from modern-day Ghana moved into Ivory Coast and formed a kingdom around Bouna, which became a centre for Islamic learning like Kong. Other kingdoms, such as the Baule and Abron, also formed in different regions of Ivory Coast.
The arrival of the Europeans
Exploitation of the land
The French extended railways and introduced schools and Western-style hospitals to Ivory Coast. But they also encouraged locals to plant cash crops, such as cocoa and coffee, starting the exploitation of the country’s forests and land.
Until the 19th century, French and Portuguese traders mostly confined themselves to the coast, where they traded goods such as slaves and ivory. But during the second half of the 1800s, European explorers ventured inland and formed ‘protectorate’ treaties with local chiefs. In the rush to divide up Africa, France claimed Ivory Coast as a colony in 1893.
With forced labour and taxes on the locals, many Ivorians revolted against their French rulers, particularly when thousands were conscripted to serve in World War I. In World War II, 40,000 Ivorians fought for the French army.
Dwindling resources and violent division
Independence from France was achieved in 1961. Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who had long fought for African equality, was elected president and ran the country (under a one-party state) for over three decades.
With an ability to unite people and keep prosperous relations with France, Ivory Coast grew in wealth during his rule. However, political unrest started to evolve during the latter part of his presidency and the first multiparty elections were held in 1990.
Ethnic and religious tensions began to mount in the 1990s, exacerbated by concern for the dwindling of Ivory Coast’s natural resources. With many migrants settled in the north, nationalistic arguments were brought into play by politicians in the south and civil war broke out in 2002.
Despite various peace agreements and an election which was supposed to unite the nation in 2010, north-south tensions remain to this day in Ivory Coast.
