<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Cote d'Ivoire<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Cote d'Ivoire
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> Cote d'Ivoire
<item>• <hi format=ital>former:</hi> Ivory Coast
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> IV
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> republic multiparty presidential regime established 1960
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Yamoussoukro
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative center; foreign governments, including the United States, maintain presence in Abidjan
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 7 August 1960 (from France)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> National Day, 7 December
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time November 1990
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 21 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993) constitutional successor who will serve during the remainder of the term of former President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY who died in office after continuous service from November 1960 (next election October 1995)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Kablan Daniel DUNCAN (since 10 December 1993)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):</hi> elections last held 25 November 1990 (next to be held November 1995); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(175 total) PDCI 163, FPI 9, PIT 1, independents 2
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Democratic Party of the Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), Henri Konan BEDIE; Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO; Ivorian Worker's Party (PIT), Francis WODIE; Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI), Morifere BAMBA; over 20 smaller parties
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> Ambassador Hume A. HORAN
<item>• <hi format=ital>embassy:</hi> 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
<item>• <hi format=ital>mailing address:</hi> 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> [225] 21-09-79 or 21-46-72
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> [225] 22-32-59
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed—green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France