history of Côte d’Ivoire

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Map of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries-Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Liberia. The map highlights the capital, Yamoussoukro, and coastal cities such as Abidjan along the Atlantic Ocean. An inset locator map shows Cote d'Ivoire's position in West Africa.

Map of Africa highlighting the location of the historical Asante Empire in orange, centered in present-day Ghana and extending into parts of Cote d'Ivoire and Togo in West Africa. The rest of the continent is shown in gray for context, with major bodies of water and surrounding regions labeled.

Map of Africa highlighting the historical region of the Akan states in West Africa, shown in orange along the border of present-day Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. The map provides continental context, with major countries and bodies of water labeled.

Map of western Africa in the late 19th century showing areas under French and British control in 1880, and illustrating the advance of French, British, and German colonial forces with dated arrows. French-controlled territory is shaded green and British-controlled territory is shaded purple, with major advances and key cities labeled. Boundaries between mandates established in 1919 are also marked, and an inset locates the region within Africa.

Map of Africa showing the territorial divisions and colonial possessions by European powers from the late 19th to early 20th century. Countries and regions are color-coded to indicate British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and German control, with independent countries and British-Egyptian condominium also marked. The map highlights the extent and timing of colonization, with most of the continent under European rule except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

Map of Africa highlighting the historical territory of French West Africa in orange, covering present-day Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Niger in the western part of the continent. Surrounding countries and bodies of water are shown in gray and blue for geographic context.

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

Map of Africa in 1960 showing the political status of each territory or country. Many countries gained independence that year, including Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad, and the Central African Republic. Countries already independent at that time included Ethiopia, Liberia, Ghana, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, and South Africa. More than 20 territories remained under colonial rule.

history of Côte d’Ivoire: Media

Images

Côte d'Ivoire

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries-Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Liberia. The map highlights the capital, Yamoussoukro, and coastal cities such as Abidjan along the Atlantic Ocean. An inset locator map shows Cote d'Ivoire's position in West Africa.

Côte d'Ivoire

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Samory Touré

Samory Touré

The Muslim leader Samory Touré, who founded a powerful kingdom in western Africa...

Map of Africa highlighting the location of the historical Asante Empire in orange, centered in present-day Ghana and extending into parts of Cote d'Ivoire and Togo in West Africa. The rest of the continent is shown in gray for context, with major bodies of water and surrounding regions labeled.

Asante empire

Map of the Asante empire, which occupied what is now southern Ghana in the 18th and...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Africa highlighting the historical region of the Akan states in West Africa, shown in orange along the border of present-day Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. The map provides continental context, with major countries and bodies of water labeled.

Akan states, western Africa

Map of the Akan states, the earliest of which was established in 1450.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of western Africa in the late 19th century showing areas under French and British control in 1880, and illustrating the advance of French, British, and German colonial forces with dated arrows. French-controlled territory is shaded green and British-controlled territory is shaded purple, with major advances and key cities labeled. Boundaries between mandates established in 1919 are also marked, and an inset locates the region within Africa.

European penetration into western Africa in the late 19th century

Map showing European-controlled territories and advances in western Africa in the...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Africa showing the territorial divisions and colonial possessions by European powers from the late 19th to early 20th century. Countries and regions are color-coded to indicate British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and German control, with independent countries and British-Egyptian condominium also marked. The map highlights the extent and timing of colonization, with most of the continent under European rule except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

Colonization of Africa by European countries

Map showing the colonization of Africa by European countries in the 19th and early...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Africa highlighting the historical territory of French West Africa in orange, covering present-day Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Niger in the western part of the continent. Surrounding countries and bodies of water are shown in gray and blue for geographic context.

French West Africa

Historical territory, French West Africa, 1958.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

Ivorian leader Félix Houphouët-Boigny served as the first president of Côte d'Ivoire...

Courtesy of the Cote d'Ivoire Information Service

Map of Africa in 1960 showing the political status of each territory or country. Many countries gained independence that year, including Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad, and the Central African Republic. Countries already independent at that time included Ethiopia, Liberia, Ghana, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, and South Africa. More than 20 territories remained under colonial rule.

Africa: Political status in 1960

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Laurent Gbagbo speaks at a podium with a South African flag in front of him

Laurent Gbagbo

Laurent Gbagbo, 2005.

© Gianluigi Guercia—AFP/Getty Images

President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire speaks at a podium with microphones in front of a green marble wall at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Alassane Ouattara

Ivoirian Pres. Alassane Ouattara addresses the United Nations General Assembly, New...

Amanda Voisard/UN Photo