Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire is a West African republic on The Gulf of Guinea. Yamoussoukro is its official capital, while Abidjan is its largest city, commercial centre and main port. The country borders Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Liberia.

Agriculture is central to its economy, and Côte d'Ivoire is a leading producer of cocoa. Abidjan also serves as a regional business and transport centre, connecting inland neighbours with Atlantic trade.

The country's geography spans a humid southern coast and drier northern regions. That range shapes agriculture, settlement and public-health work. Northern regions such as Bounkani sit close to international borders and far from the largest coastal institutions. Côte d'Ivoire's durable regional importance therefore comes from both its export economy and its position between Atlantic ports and landlocked neighbours in the Sahel.