Precolonial kingdoms
Built with the migration of people from north to south in the past, what is known today as
Ivory Coast was the history of several kingdoms. Indeed, in the 11th century, Islam was
brought to western Africa by the traders from North Africa. Later, Islam was rapidly spread
and was accepted and embraced by many empires in West Africa including the northen part
of the contemporary Ivory Coast. Large part of the territory in the 14th century was ruled
by the Mali empire and later on by the Songhaï empire. With the livelihood of people who
fled the south to the rain forest, after the 16th century, many other empires had emerged.
During the 17th century in the south, the Abron kingdom by Jaman, was established; later
the Kong Empire was also established by the Juula in the 18th, a muslim centered and
agricultural empire which didn’t really last. In the mid-17th century in east-central Ivory
Coast, other Akan groups fleeing the Asante established a Baoulé kingdom at Sakasso and
two Agni kingdoms, Indénié and Sanwi.
The french conquest
Like many other African countries, Ivory Coast was also influenced by western rules in
every part of their life. Indeed the first Europeans to explore the West African coast were the
Portuguese. In 1886, France also started showing interest for the coast and firmly established
themselves in Ivory Coast through an aggressive exploration program. In 1887 Lieutenant
Louis Binger first in line in Ivory Coast signed with authorities about four treaties
establishing French protectorates in Ivory Coast. The same year Marcel Treich-Laplène,
negotiated five additional agreements that extended French influence from the headwaters of
the Niger River Basin through Ivory Coast. The first posts to be established in Ivory Coast
was at Assini and another at Grand-Bassam , which became the colony’s first capital.
As the share of Africa was very important to European, France rushed and claimed Côte
d’Ivoire as a colony in 1893. Borders were determined in 1898, following the capture of
Samory Touré. And in 1908 Gabriel Angoulvant, appointed as Governor, began the military
occupation and forced the local population to abide by the existing laws, and supply the
French forces with food, and ensure the protection of French trade and personnel. The
imposition of forced labour and head taxes led to fierce resistance, especially among the
Baule, Anyi, and Abe (Abbey). New revolts broke out when France conscripted thousands of
Ivoirians to serve with other western African soldiers in World War I and II.
INDEPENDENCE PERIOD
As a cocoa farmer and very soon concerned with the colonial policy which favored more
French plantation owners, Felix Houphouêt Boigny and Auguste Denise, founded the
country’s first agricultural trade union for African cocoa farmers.
Houphouët-Boigny’s all-African slate swept local elections in 1946. He was elected to the
French Assembly, where he really strived to end forced labour. Convinced about his
country’s performance through France, he maintained a very strong relation with France and
was later the first African to become a minister in a European government. In 1960
Houphouët-Boigny, who had been a cabinet minister in two French governments, was
elected president of the newly independent Ivory Coast.
In 1946 Houphouët-Boigny helped found the African Democratic Rally (ADR), a western
Africa–based umbrella organization that sought equality for Africans; the Ivorian branch was the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (DPCI). Though at first harshly repressed, the ADR
achieved many of its goals. In 1960 Houphouët-Boigny, who had been a cabinet minister in
two French governments, was elected president of the newly independent Ivory Coast.
After independence Ivory Coast was ruled by Houphouët-Boigny, Henri Konan Bédié,
Robert Gueï, Laurent Gbagbo, and Alassane Ouattara (the current president).
GEOPOLITIC AND INTERDEPENDENCE
The Republic of Ivory Coast, is a country located in West Africa and shares borders with
Guinea to the northwest, Liberia to the west, Mali to the northwest, Burkina Faso to the
northeast, Ghana to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.
Rich in natural resources, the country has oil, natural gas, copper, iron, gold and even
diamonds. It also produces electricity in large volume which enables the exportation to
neighboring countries. Côte d’Ivoire has a good amount of petroleum reserves with a
production of 3 346 150 barrels in March 2019.
The first destination of Ivorian products remains the European countries, mainly
Netherlands (11.4%), United States (9.1%), Vietnam (6.8%), Germany (6.4%), France (5.4%) as
of the year 2018. And the exported products are cocoa beans, coconuts, brazil nuts, cashew,
refined petroleum, Rubber and gold. This shows the trading dependence of western
countries towards the country.
Moreover a deep analysis of Ivory Coast cooperation with other countries shows that even though the country was a French colony their relationship is not that much oriented toward a trading cooperation. Indeed, the relationship between France and Ivory Coast dates years back and is deeply rooted since the independence period and is still visible in many ways.
Talking about this relationship, it is impossible not to take into account a decisive factor
called ”Francafrique” (a symbol of the relationship between France and its colonies), which
will have impacted in one way or another the political life of this country and which
translates into interference in the political affairs of the country, with the sole aim of
containing its interests. Indeed, France’s interest in Ivory Coast may result in a control of the
political life in what should be called its “pre-square”, particularly through the hidden choice
of leaders who will perpetuate their interests instead of working for the citizens well-being.
The events that have marked the electoral and post-electoral period of Ivory Coast from
2010, have raised many questions from national and international observers wondering about the invisible hand of France. Alassane Dramane Ouattara as head of the country is a
new page in the diplomatic relation between France and Ivory Coast. The question of the
Eco, where everything seems to show a hidden will of the colonist to preserve his financial
filiation with his colonies, is a proof of this.
In addition, the French military presence in Ivory Coast reflects the fact that the
independence did not really allow France to withdraw its role of “gendarme of Africa” as we
know it. For example, the Port Bouet base is one of France’s support points in Africa after
Djibouti, and the soldiers installed in Ivory Coast (French Forces in Ivory Coast) are there
to ensure the primary function of security but also to look after the strategic interests of
France at the west coast and at the centre of the African continent and also strategically to
provide support to French forces in Mali.
French-Ivorian relations are also reflected by the fact that given the strategic position of Ivory Coast, it is a platform for access to other countries in the region, which explains the
offensive of French companies in Ivory Coast in almost all areas. In 2016 Ivory Coast had
nearly 800 French companies.
These various points of cooperation between the two countries show the striking portrait of a
France ready to do anything to maintain and strengthen its ties with what had been its
colony.
SDG3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
SDG 3 aspires to ensure health and well-being for all, including a bold commitment to end
the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases by 2030. It also aims to achieve universal health coverage, and provide access to safe and effective
medicines and vaccines for all. Supporting research and development for vaccines is an
essential part of this process as well as expanding access to affordable medicines. Indeed all
countries should by 2030:
● Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births.
● end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all
countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1000 live
births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1000 live births.
● End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and
combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
● Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through
prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
● Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug
abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
● Halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents. ● Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for
family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive
health into national strategies and programmes.
● Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to
quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and
affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
● Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals
and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
● Strengthen the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control in all countries, as appropriate.
● Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the
communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing
countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in
accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health,
which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for
all.
● Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training
and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least
developed countries and small island developing States.
● Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early
warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
In order to contribute to the achievement of SDG3 and to face the numerous challenges of the
health sector, the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP) of Ivory Coast has
redefined the strategic interventions of the sector in the National Health Development Plan
(NHDP) 2016-2020, through a participatory and inclusive planning approach. The present
NHDP therefore aims at the improvement and well-being of the population. This is to be
achieved through the construction of a functioning, integrated, responsible and efficient
health system, guaranteeing to every citizen living in Ivory Coast, particularly the most
vulnerable people, an optimal health status capable of supporting the growth and
sustainable development of the country.
Many NGOs are also contributing through various activities like food donation to families of
children with sickle cell disease, donation of medicines, medical and hygienic consumables.
Education campaigns are also offered for mothers and children on issues related to health in
order to contribute to the achievement of SDG3 in various regions of Ivory Coast. As an
example, the NGO Action Against Hunger (AAH) launched the e-Health Youth, on the 03,
June 2019, a mobile application designed by a start-up of a young Ivorian with the aim of
providing better information to young people and raising their awareness on health issues.
It allows an exchange of information that creates a bond of trust and can refer them to a
health professionalist if there is a specific need.