Cote d'Ivoire

The Ivory Coast, also known as Cote d'Ivoire is a country located in West Africa. It has an area of 322,462 square kilometres (124,503 sq mi), and is bordered by Liberia, Mali, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. It is home to 20,617,068 citizens, and has the highest standard of living in the region. A former colony of France, the Ivory Coast was granted its independence in 1960 after a referendum by the French government was held in the French colonies. Today, the Ivory Coast has grown to be the most stable nation in West Africa, as well as the most affluient, moreso than its nearby neighbor, Nigeria. The Ivorian government led by President Sylvain Bastiani, who is the head of a presidential oligarchy.

The nation is regarded as model to other African states, for it success, stability, large middle class, and relatively low corruption rate. Though the nation has its moments in history, the Ivory Coast has managed to rebound and make remarkable recoveries over time. With a national gross domestic product of $326.677 billion, the Ivory Coast has the second-largest GDP after the South African Confederacy, as well as the second highest GDP per capita on the continent. With a large and well-trained military, the country is the recognized regional power in West Africa, and has taken up the role peace-keeper since the mid-1970s.