Politics

=Politics/Government: = Independence day: August 7, 1960 Republic: multiparty, presidential regime as of 1960 (the government is currently disputed as of 31 January 2011, with both candidates in the runoff claiming victory)
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Cote d'Ivoire's constitution of the Second Republic (2000) provides for a strong presidency within the framework of a separation of powers. The elected president can maintain a 5 year leadership. The president is the head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces, may negotiate and ratify certain treaties, and may submit a bill to a national referendum or to the National Assembly. The president selects the prime minister, who is the head of government. The cabinet is selected by and is responsible to the prime minister.The governmental power has cause many wars and bloodshed over the past few decades. Those who hold the power has been up for debate and is still a focal point of disagreement and difference for the nation. Cote d'Ivoire became independent from the French power in December, 1958. The country showed much political stability from its independence from France under the control of Under Felix Houphouet-Boigny who was president until his death in 1993 and his successor, President Henri Konan Bedie who became Cote d'Ivoire's first ambassador to the U.S.

The change in political power:
Until the country gained it's independence in 1960, it was previously run by French powers. Cote d'Ivoire's primary exports are cocoa and coffee. When those prices fell the Bedie presidency felt the tension and danger. This led to government corruption leading to large deductions in foreign aid in 1998 and 1999. On December 4, 1999 the countries first rebel group led by General Robert Guéï pushed President Bedie out of Cote d'Ivoire and into exile in France. Following the bloodless coup, General Guei formed a government of national unity and promised open elections. A new constitution was drafted and ratified by the population in the summer of 2000.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Cote d'Ivoire was known as the ‘African miracle'. But in September 2002, an army mutiny escalated into a full-scale rebellion, resulting in the country being split into a rebel-held north and a government-held south. The country had been a power house for exported goods and resources available but due to the internal issues with governmental power, the country started to have problems and collapse.

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 31 October and 28 November 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alassane OUATTARA elected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA 54.1%, Laurent GBAGBO 45.9%; note - President OUATTARA was declared winner by the election commission and took the oath of office on 4 December, Prime Minister SORO resigned from the incumbent administration and was subsequently appointed to the same position by OUATTARA; former president GBAGBO refused to cede resulting in a 6-month stand-off, he was finally forced to stand down in April 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly.
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As a result of this controversial election, many lives were lost. Between March 27th- March 29th, 2011 over 1,000 civilians lost their lives due to a riot/massacre in Duekoue. What exactly caused this massacre? Who is responsible for these lives lost? Who were these victims? Which side of this presidential election is behind this sort of violence? These are all questions that are repeatedly being asked and yet no answers are found. This is just one example of the continuous violence and hostility that this country witnesses.

Question: The current president as of April, 2011 is... a. Quattara b. Gbagbo c. Deukoue d. Obama

Independence day is declared as __a. July 4th 1963__ __b. August 7 1960__ __c. December 9, 1843__ __d. September 4, 1863__ answers: 1. a 2. b __ Resources [|http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2846.ht] []

Jessica Douglas © Illinois State University Date of creation: March 31, 2011 Last modified:May 1, 2011 e-mail: Jldoug2@ilstu.edu