Bouaké

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Bouaké
Bwake
Bouaké (Ivoorkust)
Bouaké
Bouaké
Location within Côte d'Ivoire, French West Africa
Coordinates: 7°41′N 5°01′W / 7.683, -5.017
Country Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire
Region Vallée du Bandama Region
department Bouaké
Boroughs
List
Elevation [1] 312 m (1,024 ft)
Population (2002)
 - Total 775,300
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)

Bouaké (or Bwake) is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 (2002 census), and also the department of which the city is the center. Bouaké Department and Bouaké City lie in Vallée du Bandama Region.

Its economy is based on the cotton industry. It is a centre for Baoulé people and is known for crafts. The city largely grew from the 1970s after the construction of the Kossou Dam flooded land to the west. Bouaké is known for its large carnival and market and for St Michael's Cathedral (Bouaké). The city has a large airport to the north-west of town with a 3,300 metres (11,000 ft) runway.

Contents

[edit] Geography

The city is located in the central part of the country about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Kossousees, the largest lake in the Ivory Coast, some 350 kilometres (220 mi) north of Abidjan on the Abidjan- Niger Railway and about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of the country capital, Yamoussoukro.

[edit] Demographics

Year Population
1921 3,600
1945 22 000
1960 60,000
1970 120,000
1975 175,000
1988 333,000
1998 1,200,000

[edit] History

Bouaké was established as a French military post in 1899 and has been an administrative center since 1914.

French and United Nations peacekeepers currently reside in the city as part of an enforced ceasefire between the rebel-held north and the government-held south. After the attempt to overthrow the president Laurent Gbagbo had failed, the rebel forces FN (forces nouvelles) led by Guillaume Soro made Bouaké their center of control. Subsequently, Bouaké University, opened in 1996, was closed down in September 2002. Financed by Unesco, the university reopened in April, 2005.

On November 4, 2004, governmental forces used Sukohi-25's to raid the city as an opening movement towards "territorial liberation," according to Captain Jean-Noël Abbey of the Côte D'Ivoire army. Korhogo, 225 km north of Bouaké, was also targeted.

[edit] Economy

Tobacco products, building materials, and textiles are produced, and cotton sisal and rice are processed. Gold, mercury, and manganese are found nearby.

[edit] Education

Higher education
Publique

  • University of Bouaké

Primary Schools
Public

  • Ecole primaire Publique Zone1

Secondary Schools
Public

  • Lycée classique
  • Lycée technique
  • lycée Djibo Sounkalo (ex lycée Municipal)
  • Lycée moderne Belleville

Private

Public Colleges

  • College de jeunes filles
  • Collège Moderne TSF
  • College moderne de Nimbo (ex COB)
  • College G. Koko (ex CEG KOKO)

Private Colleges

  • Collège Marie Thérèse Yamousso
  • Collège Martin Luther King
  • Collège Moderne Saint Jacques
  • Collège Victor Hugo
  • Collège Ruth Fidèle
  • Collège Ouezzin Coulibaly
  • Collège Renaissance
  • Collège Moderne N'Takpe
  • Collège Saint-Viateur
  • Collège international chrétien
  • Collège Adventiste

[edit] Administration

List of mayors of Bouaké since 1960
Date elected Name Party
1960 Djibo Sounkalo PDCI-RDA
1980 Konan Blédou PDCI-RDA
1985 Konan Blédou PDCI-RDA
1990 Konan Antoine PDCI-RDA
1995 Konan Konan Denis PDCI-RDA
2000 Fanny Ibrahima RDR

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ FallingRain Map - elevation = 312m

Coordinates: 7°41′N, 5°01′W


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