History of Ivory Coast

Events

1842 - France imposes protectorate over coastal zone and later colonizes Ivory Coast

1842

1944 - Felix Houphouet-Boigny, later to become Ivory Coast's first president, founds a union of African farmers, which develops into the inter-territorial African Democratic Rally and its Ivorian sect

1944

1960 - France grants independence under President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. He holds power until he dies in 1993.

1960

2000 - Laurent Gbagbo becomes president after a controversial election.

2000

2010 - Long-delayed presidential elections. Election commission declares Alassane Ouattara the winner of the run-off. Mr Gbagbo refuses to quit. Post-election violence leaves 3,000 people dead and 500

2010

2016 March - Islamist militants attack the beach resort of Grand Bassam, near Abidjan, killing 18 people. The attack follows similar Islamist assaults on hotels in the capitals of Mali and Burkina Fas

march 2016