Cote d’Ivoire: Civilians Seek Refuge in Abidjan Showdown

As the two opposing forces in Cote d’Ivoire prepare for a final battle in the capital of Abidjan, civilians are seeking refuge in embassies and foreigners are leaving via the French Licorne (Unicorn) Force controlled airport.

French and Lebanese nationals have flown to Dakar in Senegal to seek safety but there are still around 12,000 French citizens in the West African coastal nation. France has committed to evacuating its citizens. The meeting points for French citizens in Abidjan are the Hotel Wafou on South Bridge and the French Embassy in the North

Around 150,000 Ivorian refugees are seeking safety in Liberia and around 5,000 are sheltering in Ghana.

The UN has evacuated 200 staff from its HQ to a rebel held town. In the midst of the fighting, reports have emerged of a massacre of at least 800 civilians, though full details of who is responsible are unclear. Control of state owned TV has switched hands twice in the last few weeks with both sides publishing propaganda via TV and radio.


In This Story: Cote D'Ivoire

Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, is a country located on the south coast of West Africa. Ivory Coast’s political capital is Yamoussoukro in the center of the country, while its economic capital and largest city is the port city of Abidjan.

It borders Guinea to the northwest, Liberia to the west, Mali to the northwest, Burkina Faso to the northeast, Ghana to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) to the south.

The official language of the republic is French, with local indigenous languages also being widely used that include Baoulé, Dioula, Dan, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo. In total, there are around 78 different languages spoken in Ivory Coast. The country has large populations of adherents of Christianity, Islam and various indigenous religions.

Before its colonization by Europeans, Ivory Coast was home to several states, including Gyaaman, the Kong Empire and Baoulé. The area became a protectorate of France in 1843 and achieved independence in 1960.

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France is a republic and the largest Western European nation. Through expansion and colonisation in the 17th and 18th centuries France became a great power and still retains territories around the world. It has a seat on the UN security council and is the world’s fourth most wealthy country with a high standard of living and strong cultural identity.

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In This Story: Ghana

Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, in the subregion of West Africa.

Ghana means “Warrior King” in the Soninke language.

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In This Story: Liberia

Liberia is a country in West Africa, bordering Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. On the Atlantic coast, the capital city of Monrovia is home to the Liberia National Museum, with its exhibits on national culture and history. Around Monrovia are palm-lined beaches like Silver and CeCe. Along the coast, beach towns include the port of Buchanan, as well as laid-back Robertsport, known for its strong surf.

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In This Story: Senegal

Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest.

Like other post-colonial African states, the country includes a wide mix of ethnic and linguistic communities, with the largest being the Wolof, Fula, and Serer people, and the Wolof and French languages acting as lingua francas.

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