jan
Administrative divisions:
50 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou,
Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilckrou, Bangolo, Beoumi,
Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali,
Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue,
Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo,
Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro,
Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale,
Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
Independence:
7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 7 December
Constitution:
3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time November
1990
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in
the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993) constitutional
successor who will serve during the remainder of the term of former
President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY who died in office after continuous
service from November 1960 (next election October 1995)
head of government:
Prime Minister Kablan Daniel DUNCAN (since 10 December 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):
elections last held 25 November 1990 (next to be held November 1995);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (175 total) PDCI 163,
FPI 9, PIT 1, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of the Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), Henri Konan BEDIE;
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO; Ivorian Worker's Party
(PIT), Francis WODIE; Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI), Morifere BAMBA;
over 20 smaller parties
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jean-Marie KACOU-GERVAIS
chancery:
2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 797-0300
US diplomatic represe