Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d’Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil.

In December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d’Ivoire’s history - overthrew the government.

Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner.

Popular protest forced him to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power.

Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002.

Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country, and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord.

President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and grounds for citizenship, remain unresolved.

The central government has yet to exert control over the northern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and opposition leaders.

Several thousand French and West African troops remain in Cote d’Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation process.