Leaders of Côte d'Ivoire Since Independence
A list of the Côte d'Ivoire leaders since gaining independence on 7 August 1960
Nationalist leader Félix Houphouët-Boigny became first president of Côte d'Ivoire on 7 August 1960 (he had been prime minister since 1 May 1959). He ruled for 33 years, all but the last three as the leader of a one-party state. By the time Houphouët-Boigny fell ill Côte d'Ivoire was experiencing severe economic troubles. A replacement leader, hoping to hold on to Houphouët-Boigny's legacy was installed. Henri Konan Bédié, made it through the next presidential election by banning several opposition parties. But in 1999 he was overthrown by a military coup.
The new military leader, General Robert Guéi, arranged general elections for the following year, but banned his main opposition, Alassane Ouattara (PDCI-RDA), from taking part. In the end it was Laurent Gbagbo (FPI) who won the election.
A military mutiny in 2002 plunged the country into civil strife, splitting the country north and south. Presidnet Laurent Gbagbo represented the Christian/animist south, whilst the Muslim north is represented by the Guillaume Kigbafori Soro (FN). Although a new presidential election has been due since 2005, President Gbagbo has managed to avoid calling it.
| President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire | ||
| 7 Aug 1960 - 7 Dec 1993 | Félix Houphouët-Boigny | PDCI-RDA |
| 7 Dec 1993 - 25 Dec 1999 | Henri Konan Bédié | PDCI-RDA |
| 25 Dec 1999 - 25 Oct 2000 | Robert Guéi | Military |
| 26 Oct 2000 - present | Laurent Gbagbo | FPI |
| Key to Political Parties | |
| PDCI-RDA | Parti Démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire - Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire - African Democratic Rally) |
| FPI | Front Populaire Ivoirien (Ivorian Popular Front) |
| FN | Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire (Côte d'Ivoire New Forces) |
More on the History of Côte d'Ivoire
• A Very Short History of Côte d'Ivoire
• Côte d'Ivoire Timeline
Important People from Côte d'Ivoire's History
• Félix Houphouët-Boigny
