LESSONS FROM THE CRISES IN COTE D'IVOIRE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

LESSONS FROM THE CRISES IN COTE D'IVOIRE - Essay Example the investment policies of foreign countries the Industrial sector shows high growth rate .Other fast growing sectors are automotives, food and beverages, infrastructure, oil and gas, medical, telecommunications and IT. But now the country is facing the problem of underdevelopment and financial crisis. In 1979, Ivory Coast rated one of the highest rates of economic growth among the developing countries and it was considered as an economic hotspot with limited state intervention in economy. To identify the cause of the crisis in Ivory Coast, one must go back to the socio-political settings. Arthur B. Dennis observes that, â€Å"The crisis in Ivory Coast is a drama of political leaders playing the xenophobia card to divide the tribes and rule.† (Dennis 2007). The greed of the political leaders resulted in the civil war and to the division of the country into two. In 1843, Ivory Coast became a French settlement and its history is closely related to colonization. Ivory Coast became a Republic in 1958 and in 1960 the leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), Felix Huaphonet Boigny became the President. Here begins the era of single party system in Ivory Coast and this party ruled till 1993. Moreover, the authoritarian rule under Felix Huaphonet Boigny resulted in large scale protest from the side of the people. Foreign interest and economic dependency of the rulers, political greed of leaders and the rebellious groups also act as the main factors of the crisis. A. Ekissi points out the severe ness of the civil war, â€Å"Beginning on Thursday November 4, 2004, the war resumed with aerial bombardments carried out by the loyalist army on the rebel-controlled zones† (Ekissi 2004) which describes the involvement of foreign forces in the affairs of the country. The key issue of the conflict is the question of national identity among the foreigners who had settled in Ivory Coast. The policies of the government resulted in economic depression and other problems