Juan Moran
Geo2000
Ivory Coast or Cote D’ Ivoire was home at first to many colonies such as Gyaaman, the Kong Empire and Baoule. Till a treaty was made to protectorate the country from 1843-1844 in the French colonial period. In 1893 it officially became colonized by France as the part of European scramble for Africa. After 67 years Ivory Coast gained its independence August 7, 1960 and it became a republic with a strong executive power that invested themselves much in there president.
Ivory Coast relationship with the IMF is quite extensive they first borrowed money just twenty years after their independence. They borrowed for the first 6 years and then there’s a long gap where they did not borrow money until 2007 and 2008. Each time they borrowed money it was mainly 30 million or more with the max being 112 million in 1990. As they borrowed such large amounts the interest on the loans are so high that each payment that they make barley makes a dent on the debt owed. Although in the beginning of the transactions it seemed that the country was thriving it was said to be the” jewel of West Africa and throbbed as its economic engine” (Another big test for Africa 1). They made quite significant payments back to the IMF with in the first years of borrowing, but then seemed to fall with the large amounts of interest building in such little time. This lead to borrowing loans to pay off the interest which just kept them stuck in a cycle of debt.
Ivory Coast’s most prominent issue would have to be what to do with its former leader Laurent Gbagbo and the tragedies that have come from his reign. Gbagbo was the former president from 2000 until 2011 and barred anyone from running against him much like a dictator would. During his presidency Gbagbo administration have been linked to many gruesome events such as extrajudicial killings, rapes as terrorism, and illegal secret arrest which were carried out by Ivorian military personnel, paramilitary supporters and Liberian mercenaries that he has hired. This is kind of ironic because the former leader was brought down by a popular revolt in order to bring in Gbagbo to help the people. In reality he was just as bad if not worse. His term ended in 2005 but stayed as president due to a lingering rebellion in the north and a deep split in the countries leadership. During these extra five years in power the country was experiencing a civil war until a moment of peace was declared and Gbagbo agreed to continue a reelection that was abruptly postponed. As the election started he faced a popular opponent Alassane Ouattra who really seemed to be for the people this time, an actual change. As the results came in Alassane had clearly won the election although Gbagbo said that it was fixed and that it was a robbery. Although the majority saw it like this “Gbagbo has never been in a position to win an election conducted freely and fairly. Presumably, he lost sight of this obvious point, succumbing to the over-confidence which is the achilles heel of long-tenured autocrats surrounded by sycophants” (Paul Collier. Guardian.co.uk) .Instead admitting defeat he decided to stay in power with the help of his militia and his commanders. They led a violent and vicious attack on the country to keep Gbagbo in power. Senseless acts of violence raping individuals and recruiting children to do their work. The main fight has led back into the city Abidjan “Mr. Gbagbo's men are supported by mercenaries and are better armed. Dislodging the former president from his palace in Abidjan may come at a high price” (Coming to a Crunch 1. The economist.com). Finally Ouattra sent the military and some of the rebels helping to fight and to capture Laurent Gbagbo where he was discovered to be held up in a bunker with his family. Although he was captured most of his strongest allies and commanders ran away into neighboring countries. Where they have set up camps “Exiles supporting Ivory Coast's former President Laurent Gbagbo have established a base in neighboring Ghana from which they are working to destabilize the current Ivorian government” (Louis Charbonneau, Chicago tribune pg1). The generals and other mercenaries went as far as killing peacekeepers at the border of Ivory Coast and Liberia in what authorities call a cross border raid. Even though Gbagbo has been sent to trial at the International Criminal Court where they are deciding his fate “The Hague has accused him of crimes against humanity” (Laurent Gbagbo pg.1 New York Times). “The court’s prosecutor accused Mr. Gbagbo of being responsible for the violence in which more than 3,000 people were killed and uncounted numbers were raped and mistreated” (New York Times pg1). He also left the economic situation in ruins by using up money to benefit himself and his allies when the UN and the countries around him threatened him with this to budge he still stayed his ground. This is also leaving neighboring countries around them to sell their main export which is cocoa which can bring in a lot of money. As another country why would you concede extra money for someone else’s war? Every other country is taking advantage of this and with some of the allies running away to these countries they benefit by cutting some kind of deal with the political leaders, which happen to have a close connection with Gbagbo. In return keeping them safe and in hopes of getting their political leader back on top and continue to keep the corrupt on top. By causing this civil war has impeded any kind of progress as country it as having and growing as it once was in the early 1980’s. Taking children away from their education and destroying towns and hurting individuals for not reelecting him is something that should not be tolerated. In my opinion whatever justice is given to him should be judged in a court system. Leaving him to the people will only leave them to step down to his level of tyranny and end up taking his life. Although I can’t be biased and say I wouldn’t want to do the same by taking away loved ones and leaving my city destroyed.
In conclusion I would have to consider Ivory Coast to be an underdeveloped country because of the strength within the government is non-existent. For example they can have a leader stay longer in office longer than his designated term and have no say in the matter. Also have complete power over its main military through its president and not its government. Whereas in a first world country a political leader wouldn’t be able to pull that off because we can have him impeached and taken away from office, we the people have as much power untied as a president has on its own. I wouldn’t call Ivory Coast a third world though because it does have some kind of structure by at least having a government and conducting elections to try to better themselves. Another reason why I wouldn’t consider them as a third world would have to be the income with in the first forty years they seemed to be quite profitable by exporting their main product cocoa. The fact that how much power a corrupted leader can have on an entire country one of the main factors that in my opinion I would have to classify Ivory Coast as a underdeveloped country.

REFERENCE * www.imf.org * Louis Charbonneau, Ivory Coast exiles set up strategic command www.chicagotribuene.com * New York Times Laurent Gbagbo. www.neewyorktimes.com * Paul Collier, Comes to a crunch. Guardian.co.uk * The Economist, Another big test for Africa. economist.com