The Conflict

Côte d'Ivoire, once considered the African model of economic and political success after independence, has experienced political instability, continuous economic tailspins, and violent confrontations along ethnic and religious lines in the last decade. In this time, political leaders seeking to bolster their fragile positions have exacerbated ethnic hostilities, pitting Christians against Muslims, natives against immigrants, and the various ethnic groups against each other. With people thus divided, the election system and embryonic party system are either being circumvented or are ineffective, and the threat of chaos looms.

Political

• The 33-year presidency of Félix Houphouët-Boigny had been marked by solid economic growth and a peaceful multiethnic society. When he died in 1993 Prime...