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Cote d'Ivoire

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Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire gained its independence from France in 1960. French is the official language, but the multiethnic population speaks more than sixty native dialects, of which Dioula is the most common. In 1983 the capital moved from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro, although Abidjan remains the country's commercial and administrative centre. 

Following a period of civil war between 2010 and 2011, elections were held in 2015 and 2020. Since 2021, Australia has contributed funds to the International Counter-Terrorism Academy in Côte d’Ivoire which aims to build a comprehensive and sustainable counterterrorism capability in Africa spanning the region’s military, police, judicial, and customs communities to interdict drug, human, and weapons smuggling activities.

Côte d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. Agriculture employs around two-thirds of the population. 

Côte d'Ivoire is a member of La Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States. Australia's diplomatic representation to Côte d'Ivoire is from the High Commission in Accra, Ghana.

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