Cote d'Ivoire A Country Study

Citation preview

area

handbook

series

Cote d 'I voire a country study

Cote

d'l voire

a country study Federal Research Division Library of

Congress Edited by

Robert E. Handloff Research Completed November 1988

On

the cover: Detail of hand-painted Senoufo tapestry from northern Cote d'lvoire

Third Edition,

First Printing, 1991.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cote d'lvoire a country study / Federal Research Division, Library of Congress edited by Robert E. Handloff. cm. (Area Handbook Series) (DA pam 550-69) p. "Replaces the second edition of the original Area handbook for the Ivory Coast, which was reprinted in 1973 with an added summary of events covering the period January 1963 to December :

;

—

;

1972"— Pref. "Research completed November 1988." Includes bibliographical references (pp. 223-241) and index. 101.22:550-69/990 Supt. of Docs. no. :

1.

II.

III.

V.

Ivory Coast.

Roberts,

I.

D

Handloff, Robert Earl, 1942-

Thomas Duval, Area handbook

.

for Ivory Coast.

Library of Congress. Federal Research Division. IV. Series. pam 550-69.

Series:

DA

DT545.22.C66 966.6805— dc20

;

90-5878

1990

CIP

Headquarters, Department of the

DA Pam

Army

550-69

For

sale

by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington,

D.C

20402

Foreword

This volume is one in a continuing series of books now being prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Con-

—

under the Country Studies Area Handbook Program. The page of this book lists the other published studies. Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country, describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural gress

last

factors.

Each study

is

written by a multidisciplinary team of social

The

authors seek to provide a basic understanding of the observed society, striving for a dynamic rather than a static scientists.

is devoted to the people who make dominant beliefs and values, their common interests and the issues on which they are divided, the nature and extent of their involvement with national institutions, and their attitudes toward each other and toward their social system and

portrayal. Particular attention

up

the society, their origins,

political order.

The books represent the analysis of the authors and should not be construed as an expression of an official United States government position, policy, or decision. The authors have sought to adhere to accepted standards of scholarly objectivity. Corrections, additions, and suggestions for changes from readers will be welcomed

for use in future editions.

Louis R. Mortimer Acting Chief Federal Research Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 20540

iii

Acknowledgments

The

authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of T.D. M. Bouton, Irving Kaplan, Barbara Lent, Charles

Roberts, Donald

Townsend, and Neda A. Walpole, who coauthored tion of Ivory Coast:

A

the

first edi-

Country Study, the predecessor of the current

volume. The authors also wish to thank Roxanne Donahey, William Kallon, Vincent Kern, Gilda Nimer, and Benjamin Nimer, who updated the original volume with a new section entided "Summary of Events: January 1963-December 1972." Their collective work provided the organizational outline for the present volume as well as substantial portions of the text. The authors are grateful to those individuals in various public

and private agencies who conand invaluable time and

tributed photographs, research materials,

expertise to the production of this book.

The

authors also wish to thank those

Thomas

who

contributed directly

Richard F. Nyrop, and Sandra W. Meditz reviewed all drafts and provided guidance; Martha E. Hopkins and Marilyn Majeska managed editing and production; Mimi Cantwell, Sharon Costello, Vincent Ercolano, Ruth Nieland, and Sharon Schultz edited the chapters; Beverly Wolpert performed the final prepublication review; and Shirley Kessel prepared the index. Also involved in preparing the text were editorial assistants Barbara Edgerton and Izella Watson. Malinda B. Neale of the Library of Congress Composing Unit prepared the camera-ready copy, under the supervision of Peggy Pixley. David P. Cabitto reviewed draft maps from which he, Kimberly A. Lord, and Harriett R. Blood prepared the final maps. Additional thanks are due also to Kimberly A. Lord for designing the artwork for the cover and the illustrations on the title page of each chapter and, with David P. Cabitto and Sandra K. Ferrell, preparing charts and graphs. Arvies J. Staton provided information on military ranks, uniforms, and insignia. to the preparation of the text.

Collelo,

,

Contents

Page

Foreword

iii

Acknowledgments

v

Preface

xiii

Country Profile

XV

Introduction

Chapter

1.

xxiii

Historical Setting

1

Rachel Warner

PRE-EUROPEAN PERIOD ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS FRENCH EXPANSION IN COTE DT VOIRE

5 7

9

Local Resistance and Establishment of 9

Protectorates

Repression and Conquest

11

FRENCH RULE UNTIL WORLD WAR

12

II

Evolution of Colonial Policy

12

Colonial Administration

12

Economic Development and

IMPACT OF WORLD WAR

Social

Change

Brazzaville Conference

16

French Union Regional

Political

18

Cooperation

20

TRANSFORMATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF COTE DTVOIRE REFORM AND THE FRENCH COMMUNITY INDEPENDENCE AND THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE ONE-PARTY SYSTEM INTERNAL DISSENT AND FURTHER CONSOLIDATION OF POWER Changes

in

14 16

II

Government and Party Structures

21

22 23 25 25

Sources of Popular Discontent

26

Consolidation of Power in the 1960s and 1970s

27

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL LATE 1970s AND 1980s

ISSUES OF

Growing Economic Problems

THE 30 30

Succession Question

31

Party Decentralization

32

vii

Discontent on Campus Other Sources of Discontent

Chapter

The Society and

2.

32 33 Its

Environment Rita

M.

37

Byrnes

PHYSICAL SETTING

41

Location and Size

41

Physical Features

41

Rivers

44

Climate

45

POPULATION

46

Distribution

47

Composition

48

ETHNIC GROUPS AND LANGUAGES

48

Ethnic Diversity

48

Language Diversity

50

Lineage Patterns

51

East Atlantic Cultures

53

West Atlantic Cultures

56

Mande

Cultures

59

Voltaic Cultures

60

Foreigners

61

THE ROLE OF RELIGION

64

Local Religions

66

World Religions

69

Syncretic Religions

73

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE Urban

Society

73

74

76

Elites

The Role

of

Women

Social Attitudes

EDUCATION

78 79

80

The Education System

81

Problems

85

in

Education

HEALTH AND WELFARE Social Social

Chapter

3.

86

Programs Problems

88

The Economy

91

88

Robert E. Handloff and Judith Timyan

GROWTH AND STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY ROLE OF GOVERNMENT Public Investment

Budget

Vlll

94 98 99 100

Banking and Finance

102

LABOR

105

Wages and Income

Distribution

107

Labor Unions

109

AGRICULTURE

109

Land Use Cocoa

110

Coffee

112

112

Timber Diversification

113

Crops

115

Food Crops Animal Husbandry

117

Fisheries

120

120

MANUFACTURING ENERGY

121

123

Electricity

123

Other Energy Sources

125

EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES

125

Petroleum

125

Natural Gas

127

Other Minerals

127

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

128

Railroads

129

Roads Ports and Maritime Shipping

130

Air Transport

132

131

Telecommunications

133

FOREIGN TRADE AND COMMERCE BALANCE OF PAYMENTS AND FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

134

134

National Debt

135

Foreign Assistance

137

FUTURE OF THE ECONOMY Chapter 4. Government and

138

Politics

141

Robert E. Handloff

FORMAL POWER The Constitution

145

145

Civil Rights

146

The Executive The National Assembly The Economic and Social Council

147

Judicial System

151

Local Government

153

148 149

ix

ACTUAL POWER

156

The Party

156

Party Organization Orientation

Toward

158 the Political System

INTEREST GROUPS AND NATIONAL POLITICS

162

162

Political Issues

Interest

160

Groups

168

FOREIGN RELATIONS

172

Foreign Relations and the Council of the Entente ....

173

Relations with Ghana, Burkina Faso, Guinea,

and Mali

174

Relations with Other African States

176

Relations with France

176

Relations with the United States

177

Relations with the Soviet

Union and China

Relations with Israel

Chapter

178

National Security

5.

178

181

Joseph P. Smaldone

ARMED FORCES

184

Early Development Constitutional, Legal,

184

and Administrative 186

Structure

Defense Mission and National Policy Structure

189

Recruitment and Conditions of Service Training

192

Foreign Influences

ROLE OF THE ARMED FORCES The

197

IN SOCIETY

Military in National Perspective

National Service and Veterans Groups

INTERNAL SECURITY

201 201

203

206

Rights

Internal Security Organization

200

203

Domestic Security

Human

193

and Forces

Crime and Punishment

206 210

Appendix. Tables

215

Bibliography

223

Glossary

243

Index

247

List 1

x

of Figures

Administrative Divisions of Cote dTvoire, 1988

xxii

Kingdoms Topography and Drainage

2 Precolonial

3

6

42

4 Vegetation Zones, 1983

44

by Age and Sex, 1988 6 Major Ethnic Groups, 1983 7 Percentage of Population by Ethnic Cluster, 1988

50

8 Public Education System, 1988

82

5 Population

Timber Producing Areas Timber Production, Selected Years, 1961-87 Economic Activity, 1983

9 Cocoa, Coffee, and 10 11

12 Transportation System, 1988 13 Organization of the Ivoirian

52

54 114 116

126 132

Government, 1986

150

14 Organization of Ivoirian Defense Forces, 1985

188

Ranks and Insignia, 1988 16 Enlisted Ranks and Insignia, 1988

194

15 Officer

195

XI

Preface

Cote d'lvoire:

A

Country Study replaces the second edition of the

which was reprinted in 1973 with an added summary of events covering the January 1963 to December 1972 period. Like the earlier study, this edition seeks to provide a concise and objective account of the history and dominant social, political, economic, and military aspects of contemporary Cote d'lvoire. Sources of information included scholoriginal Area Handbook for Ivory Coast

monographs and journals,

of governments and and foreign and domestic newspapers. Chapter bibliographies appear at the end of the book; brief comments on some of the more valuable sources appear at the end of each chapter. Measurements are given in the arly

official reports

international organizations, periodicals,

metric system; a conversion table to aid readers

is

included (see

1, Appendix). A glossary is also included. Authors have spelled place-names in accordance with usage established by the United States Board on Geographic Names. In transliterating personal names, they have followed standard usage in

table

official Ivoirian sources.

xm

Country Profile

Country Formal Name: Republique de Cote

d'lvoire.

Short Form: Cote d'lvoire.

Term

for Citizens: Ivoirians.

Capital: Abidjan.

Date of Independence: August

7,

1960, from France.

Geography Size: Total area 322,460 square kilometers.

Topography: Southern boundary 515-kilometer coastline on Gulf of Guinea. Southeast marked by coastal lagoons; southern region, savanna zone with vegetation decreasing from south

especially southwest, densely forested; northern region

of lateritic or sandy

soils,

xv

to north within region. Terrain mostly with mountains in the west.

flat to

undulating plains,

Climate: Warm, humid climate transitional from equatorial to tropical. In north, heavy rains between June and October (110 centimeters annually); along equatorial coast, some rain in most months, but heaviest between May and July and August and September (200 centimeters annually), with major dry season from December to April. Temperatures average between 25°C and 30°C and range from 10°C to 40°C.

Society Population: As of 1987, estimated at 10.6 million, with average annual growth rate of 4.1 percent, one of highest in world. Roughly 50 percent of population urban and concentrated in Abidjan and Bouake areas. Average population density thirty- two persons per square kilometer in 1987. Forty-five percent of population under age fifteen.

Ethnic Groups: More than sixty ethnic groups. Major ethnic groups included: Baoule (15 percent), Senoufo (10 percent), Bete 3 percent), (6 percent), Lagoon peoples (5 percent), Agni (Anyi and Mande cluster of groups, including Juula, Bambara, and Malinke (17 percent). Non-Ivoirian Africans, Lebanese, Asians, and Europeans composed nearly 27 percent of population.

—

Languages: Number of African languages (grouped into four branches of Niger-Congo language family) corresponds roughly to

number of ethnic

groups. Sections of several groups speak differ-

Some languages used

as mother tongue by more than one ethnic group. Official language, French; variants of Mande-kan spoken throughout country as commercial language.

ent languages.

Religion: In 1980s one-fourth of population Muslim, one-eighth Christian (mostly Roman Catholic), and remainder local religions or, in smaller numbers, syncretic religions.

Education: Six-year primary- school system compulsory where available. In 1987 enrolled 75 percent of boys and 50 percent of girls under fifteen. Only 19 percent of primary- school students enrolled in public secondary schools. After four years, students sit for exams for certificate of lower cycle of secondary study {brevet d'etude du premier cycle BEPC). A second three-year cycle led to

—

baccalaureat,

necessary for university entrance. Public schooling

through university controlled and funded by central government. Fourteen percent of primary schools and 29 percent of secondary xvi

—

Some Quranic schools in north by government. In 1988 overall liter43 percent; 53 percent for men and 31 percent for women.

schools private, mostly Catholic. tolerated but not supported

acy rate

Health: In 1988 health services unable

to

meet needs of majority

of population. Urban-rural and regional imbalances, low ratios of doctors to patients, and severe shortages of nurses and auxiliary health care personnel existed. Public health programs underfunded

and personnel lacked adequate training. Nutritional deficiencies and impure water major sources of disease. Malaria, measles, and tropical ailments

common; 250

cases of acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS) reported by end of 1987.

Economy Salient Features:

Economy oriented toward private

enterprise with

extensive government participation through parastatals, investment,

and tax

policies.

Foreign investment welcomed; multinational

corporations heavily involved in two-thirds of largest thirty businesses dealing in

commodity

exports, food processing,

oil refin-

and commercial wholesaling and retailing. Country's principal resource agricultural land. Major food crops yams, cassava, rice, maize, and plantains. ing, textiles, beverages, construction,

Agriculture: Thirty-four percent of population engaged in subsistence farming. Cash cropping on small plots (coffee, cocoa, and cotton) and large plantations (bananas, palm oil, pineapples, rubber, and sugar). Agriculture second largest contributor to gross domestic product (GDP see Glossary) and main source of exports. In late 1990s, not self-sufficient in food production.

—

Manufacturing: Import substitution consumer goods, some intermediate inputs for domestic markets, and food processing coffee, cocoa, and sugar for export. Most industry required im-

—

ported intermediate materials.

Mining: Some diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, nickel, colombo-tantalite, ilmenite, and gold, but none in significant amounts; offshore oil met about two- thirds of local needs. Energy: Rural population heavily dependent on wood; urban popuon electric power, natural gas, and kerosene.

lation,

Foreign Trade: Principal exports cocoa, coffee, and timber; other oil, and pineapples. Principal machinery, and transport equipimports petroleum products, ment.

exports cotton, sugar, rubber, palm

xvn

Currency: African Financial Community (Communaute Financier Africaine) franc (CFA F) equal in 1988 to 315 per dollar and freely convertible to French francs (FF). Fiscal Year: January

1

through December 31.

Transportation Railroads: Government-owned railroad runs 660 kilometers between Abidjan and border with Burkina Faso, where, under different ownership, it continues on to Ouagadougou; one-meter gauge, single track except at stations.

Roads: Extensive system totaling 53,736 kilometers; more than 3,600 kilometers bituminous and bituminous-treated surface; 32,000 kilometers gravel, crushed stone, laterite, and improved earth; 18,136 unimproved. Hard surface roads generally run northsouth, linking cities to Abidjan.

Ports and Shipping: Major ports port at Sassandra. At Abidjan, five

at

Abidjan and San-Pedro; minor included total of thirty-

facilities

for general, bulk, and container cargo; rolland specialized quays for bananas, fish, timcement, hydrocarbons, and tankers. In 1986 handled 9.5 mil-

deep water berths

on/roll-off facility;

ber,

lion tons of cargo.

Civil Aviation: Government-owned Ivoirian Air Transport and Liaison (Groupement Aerien de Transport et de Liaison GATL),

—

known

and regional service; international service provided by Air Afrique, owned by consortium of African countries and based in Abidjan. International airports at Abidjan, Bouake, and Yamoussoukro, plus 13 major domestic airfields, 17 smaller regional airfields, and 50 private airalso

as Air Ivoire, provided domestic

fields.

Government and

Politics

Government: Constitution of 1960 tralized presidential

creates republic with strong, cen-

government, independent judiciary, and na-

tional legislature. President and 175-member National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) elected by universal suffrage for five-year terms. In the late 1980s, all candidates had to belong to Democratic Party of Cote dTvoire (Parti Democratique de Cote dTvoire PDCI), then the country's only legal party.

Administrative Divisions: Forty- nine prefectures divided into subprefectures; thirty-seven municipalities enjoyed autonomous status. xvin

Judicial System: Laws based on French and, to lesser extent, customary law. Upper-level courts included Supreme Court, High Court of Justice, and State Security Court; lower courts included courts of appeal, courts of first instance, courts of assize,

and justice

of peace courts. Politics:

As of late 1988,

Felix

president since independence.

Houphouet-Boigny had served

He had

not

named

as

a successor, en-

couraging rivalry between National Assembly president Henri Konan Bedie and Economic and Social Council president Philippe Yace. Economic austerity, calls for multiparty system, and increasing crime were potential threats to stability.

Foreign Affairs: Leading member of Council of the Entente and West African Economic Community; pragmatic foreign policy; staunch ally of France and other Western nations on which Cote d'lvoire relied for development aid. Supported United States agenda

on South Africa and Chad.

National Security

Armed

Forces: In 1987 armed forces numbered 9,730 personnel: army numbered 5,500; navy, approximately 700; air force, approximately 930; and Presidential Guard and Militia (Garde Presiden-

—

Milice GPM), approximately 2,600. Military service compulsory; however, volunteers easily filled needs.

tielle et

Major Tactical Units: Army included

four infantry battalions of

armored battalion of two squadrons, one antiaircraft artillery battalion, and one engineering battalion, all with support units. Navy included warships, auxiliaries, and service craft. Air force had one fighter-bomber squadron plus twenty transport aircraft and eleven helicopters for training and transport. three companies each, one

Foreign Military Assistance: Relied almost exclusively on French weaponry, communications equipment, and training. Japan provided a training ship plus technical assistance and training; Britain, Netherlands, Sweden, and United States sold support aircraft, small naval craft, trucks, jeeps, and mortars; Switzerland provided assault rifles.

Defense Expenditures: In 1986 defense spending came to CFA F32.4 billion, or less than 7.5 percent of government budget. Police

and Paramilitary Forces: In

1987, National Security Police

numbered 5,300; paramilitary National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), (Surete Nationale), a national police force,

xix

and order in rural areas, numbered approximately 4,500. Municipal police, under local control, maintained law and order in all urban administrations. responsible for maintaining law

xx

—

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