Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Côte d’Ivoire has had five presidents. Félix Houphouët-Boigny was the first, serving from 1960 until he died in 1993.
He was followed by Henri Konan Bédié, Robert Guéï, Laurent Gbagbo, and the current president, Alassane Ouattara, who has been in office since December 4, 2010.
Côte d’Ivoire’s 2016 Constitution set a two-term limit for the presidency, but this limit was waived for Ouattara, allowing him to seek third and fourth terms.
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Complete List Of Côte d’Ivoire Presidents Since Gaining Independence
No | Name | Tenure | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Félix Houphouët-Boigny | 1960 - 1993 | Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI-RDA) |
2 | Henri Konan Bédié | 1993 - 1999 | Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI-RDA) |
3 | Robert Guéï | 1999 - 2000 | Military |
4 | Laurent Gbagbo | 2000 - 2011 | Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) |
5 | Alassane Ouattara | 2010 - Present | Rally of the Republicans (RDR) |
Who Was The First President Of Côte d’Ivoire?
Félix Houphouët-Boigny, born on October 18, 1905, in Yamoussoukro, a city in the Ivory Coast was the first president of Côte d’Ivoire.
Before entering politics, he worked as a doctor. His father was a leader of the Boulé people and a successful cocoa farmer.
After attending school in his village, he went to Senegal for medical training and worked as a physician from 1925 to 1940.
Houphouët-Boigny’s political career started when he founded a group to protect the rights of farmworkers in 1944. He later became a deputy in the French National Assembly in 1945, where he fought to end forced labor in French colonies.
His political influence grew, and he formed a party called the PDCI, which pushed for the interests of Ivorians while working within the French colonial system.
As independence movements grew in Africa, Houphouët-Boigny became a key figure. In 1960, Côte d’Ivoire gained independence, and Houphouët-Boigny was elected president.
He grew the economy by promoting farming and welcoming foreign investments. Under his leadership, the country enjoyed a period of economic success, but challenges came later, especially in the 1980s.
His government faced criticism for its spending, including the construction of a massive basilica in Yamoussoukro. Though some accused him of being too controlling, Houphouët-Boigny allowed democratic reforms in the 1990s, including multiparty elections. He led the country until his death on December 7, 1993.
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Who Is The Current President Of Côte d’Ivoire?
Alassane Dramane Ouattara is the current President of Côte d’Ivoire, serving since May 6, 2011. He was born on January 1, 1942, in Dimbokro, Côte d’Ivoire, and is an experienced economist and politician.
His leadership has had a major impact on the country’s economy and politics. However, Ouattara built a successful career in international economics before now.
He worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) starting in 1968 and eventually became the Director of the African Department. Later, he served as the Governor of the Central Bank of West African States.
Ouattara’s political career began when he was appointed Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire in 1990 under President Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
During this time, he addressed economic problems by introducing privatization and austerity measures. After resigning in 1993, he later became the leader of the Rally of Republicans (RDR) party in 1999.
In 2010, Ouattara ran for president and won the election with 54% of the vote in the second round. However, the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to step down, leading to a political crisis.
After months of unrest, Gbagbo was arrested in 2011, and Ouattara officially assumed office. Since becoming president, he has been striving to rebuild the country’s economy, improve infrastructure, and promote national reconciliation.
He was re-elected in 2015 with strong support and later ran for a controversial third term in 2020, winning the election despite opposition protests.
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Who Is The Current Vice President Of Côte d’Ivoire?
The current Vice President of Côte d’Ivoire is Tiémoko Meyliet Koné. He has been in office since April 19, 2022, following his appointment by President Alassane Ouattara.
Koné took over after the resignation of the previous Vice President, Daniel Kablan Duncan, in July 2020. Tiémoko Meyliet Koné was born on April 26, 1949, in Tafiré, a town in the Hambol Region of Côte d’Ivoire.
He studied at the Centre de Formation de la BCEAO, which is the Central Bank of West African States, and later attended the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Institute in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in financial and monetary studies.
Koné began his professional career in 1975 at the BCEAO. Between 1991 and 1998, he served as National Director for Côte d’Ivoire and as an Alternate Governor at the IMF. From 1996 to 2006, he was Chairman of the UEMOA Pension Fund.
Koné has also served in Côte d’Ivoire’s government, working as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Guillaume Soro from 2007 to 2010 and later as Minister of Construction, Urban Planning, and Housing.
In 2011, Koné was appointed Governor of the BCEAO, a position he held until his vice-presidential appointment in 2022.
