Ivory Coast
Statistics & Facts:
- Capital City = Yamoussoukro
- Population = 21,058,798
- Official and Recognized Languages = French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
- Independence = August 7, 1960
- GDP = $35.82 BILLION (USD 2009 estimate) / Per capita = $1,700
- Currency = Communaute Financiere Africaine francs
- Religion = Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, Indigenous beliefs 11.9%
(Statistics from CIA – World Factbook)
Ivory Coast and Diamonds:
There is currently a small scale conflict tacking place in the informal diamond digging areas in the north east of the Ivory Coast. There is no official/formal diamond exploration or mining being carried out in Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast remains under a UN Security Council Resolution (renewed on October 31, 2007) prohibiting the import and export of diamonds. The country is a member of the Kimberley Process but the Government, in alignment with the UNSC Resolution, has itself suspended all official exports of rough diamonds to help support its efforts to restore social stability and ensure systems are in place to met the KP requirements. The Kimberley Process is the process developed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond supply chain and provides an assurance that diamonds are from conflict free sources. The Government of Ivory Coast is working closely with the Kimberley Process Secretariat and the UN to successfully overcome various challenges and establish a positive solution.
(Diamondfacts.org)
Education in Ivory Coast
Large parts of the adult population, in particular women, are illiterate. Many children between 6 and 10 years are not enrolled in school. The majority of students in secondary education are male. At the end of secondary education, students can sit the Baccalauréat examination. The country has universities, including the University of Côte d’Ivoire.
(Wikipedia.org)
news & upcoming events
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