Côte d'Ivoire

Through the ages

Rivals in history

The kingdoms, empires and states Côte d'Ivoire fought or stood against, from the first to today.

1. 🇬🇭 Ashanti Empire1740 to 1874

   Asante armies conquer the Abron kingdom of Gyaman, around Bondoukou, in the 1740s and make it a tributary. Asante power in the north east lasts until British wars break it in the late nineteenth century.

2. 🇫🇷 France1843 to 1960

   France claims the coast in 1843, declares a colony in 1893 and conquers the forest by force from 1908, imposing taxes and forced labour. Independence comes peacefully in 1960 under Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

3. 🇬🇳 Samori Touré1894 to 1898

   Retreating from French armies, Samori Touré's state occupies the north in the 1890s. His forces destroy Kong in 1897, and the French capture him at Guélémou in September 1898.

4. Forces Nouvelles rebels2002 to 2011

   After a failed coup in 2002, the Forces Nouvelles hold the north for years, with their base at Bouaké. Their leader Guillaume Soro becomes prime minister in 2007, and their fighters help bring Ouattara to power in 2011.

5. 🇫🇷 France2004

   In November 2004 Ivorian jets bomb a French base at Bouaké, killing nine French soldiers. France destroys the small Ivorian air force in reply, and anti-French riots in Abidjan lead thousands of French citizens to leave.

6. 🇬🇭 Ghana2014 to 2017

   Both countries claim offshore waters rich in oil. Ghana takes the case to a special chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in 2014, and its 2017 ruling largely follows Ghana's proposed line.

7. Jihadist groups2016 to 2021

   Gunmen of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb kill 19 people at Grand-Bassam in March 2016. In 2020 and 2021 jihadists from Burkina Faso attack army posts in the north, around Kafolo, before the army tightens its hold.

Today

Côte d'Ivoire now

Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities -- some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom -- originally founded in the 17th century -- tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969.

Capital

Yamoussoukro

Government

presidential republic

Head of government

Robert Beugré Mambé

Head of state

Alassane Ouattara

Languages

French

Area

322,460 km²

Through time

Then and now

• Population31.2 million2023 · 2.7 million in 1950
• Life expectancy61.9 years2023 · 30.8 years in 1950
• GDP per person$4,0112022 · $1,659 in 1950
• Living in cities55%2025 · 10% in 1950
• Literacy50%2021
• Political regimeElectoral autocracy2025 · Closed autocracy in 1950
• Military alliancesNone of these2024 · None of these in 1950
• Military spending0.8% of GDP2025
• War deathsNone2025

Population: HYDE 3.3, Gapminder and UN WPP. GDP per capita: Maddison Project Database 2023. Urban share: UN WPP. Life expectancy: Riley, HMD, UN WPP. Literacy: OWID historical estimates, World Bank, UNESCO. Military spending: SIPRI. War deaths: UCDP. Political regime: V-Dem, Regimes of the World. All via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). Alliances and organization memberships: compiled by Atlas. Satellites in orbit: CelesTrak SATCAT. Modern borders, backcast.

Relations

Close partners and tensions

Summarised from World Bank and Wikipedia data, updated 23 October 2026.