Indepenedence day

7 August

Before the colonial era, most European contact with this section of West Africa was for the trade-in elephant ivory, hence the region’s name. The French created the first protectorate over a few kingdoms in the region from 1843 to 1844.

In 1893, France acquired control of what is now the Ivory Coast, and the new colonial overlords wasted no time in exploiting the rich national resources and forcing the native population to labor on plantations where the French profited.

In the early 1900s, Ivory Coast joined the Federation of French West Africa. However, this did not help their status. Following World War II, all of French West Africa was granted French citizenship as a reward for their service to France throughout the war.

With the foundation of the Fourth French Republic, the Ivory Coast became a French overseas territory in 1946, with its parliament and representation in the French National Assembly. In 1958, Ivory Coast gained independence as a      self-governing independent republic within the French Community. On July 11, 1960, France agreed to the Ivory Coast’s full independence. Consequently, Ivory Coast became independent on August 7, 1960.

Independence leader Felix Houphouet Boigny was elected president of the new republic and remained in power for 33 years until his death in 1993, shielding Ivory Coast from the turmoil of regime transition that characterized the years following independence for the other ex-French states.

On Independence Day, there are military and other parades in Yamoussoukro, the capital city, as well as many activities hosted by municipal governments, in addition to private celebrations and, on occasion, political street protests.