Location of Cote d'Ivoire Map of Cote d'Ivoire Flag of Cote
d'Ivoire The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (English pronunciation:
/ˌkoʊt dɪˈvwɑr/; French: [kot diˈvwaʁ]), commonly known in
English as Ivory Coast, is a country in West Africa. It has an
area of 322,462 km2, and borders the countries of Liberia,
Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is
along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population which was
15,366,672 in 1998, was estimated to be 20,617,068 in 2009.
Prior to its occupation by Europeans, Côte d'Ivoire was home to
several important states, including Gyaaman, the Kong Empire,
and Baoulé. There were also two Anyi kingdoms, Indénié and
Sanwi, which attempted to retain their separate identity through
the French colonial period and even after Côte d'Ivoire's
independence. An 1843–1844 treaty made Côte d'Ivoire a
"protectorate" of France and in 1893, it became a French colony
as part of the European scramble for Africa. Côte d'Ivoire
became independent on 7 August 1960. From 1960 to