Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements, singular -
departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville,
Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou,
Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro,
Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou,
Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro,
Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra,
Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua,
Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 7 August
Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time November 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993)
served the remainder of the term of former President Felix
HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who died in office after continuous service from
November 1960; President BEDIE was elected with 96% of the vote at
the last election on 22 October 1995 (next election October 2000);
the president is elected for a five-year term by popular vote
head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10
December 1993), appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers, appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 27
November 1995 (next to be held November 2000); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (175 total) PDCI 147, RDR 14, FPI 10,
unfilled 4; note - of the unfilled seats, elections for 3 were
postponed because of violence in the electoral districts and 1 seat
remains contested
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote
d'Ivoire (PDCI), Henri Konan BEDIE; Rally of the Republicans (RDR),
Djeny KOBINA; Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO; Ivorian
Worker's Party (PIT), Francis WODIE; Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI),
Morifere BAMBA; over 20 smaller parties