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The 31 current regions. Green lines indicate borders of regions. Orange lines indicate borders of autonomous districts that are not divided into regions.

The regions of Ivory Coast (French: régions de la Côte d'Ivoire) are the second-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast. There are 31 regions, and each region is subdivided into two or more departments, the third-level division in Ivory Coast. Two to four regions are combined to make up an autonomous district, the first-level subdivision. The autonomous districts of Abidjan and Yamoussoukro are not divided into regions.

History

The first 10 regions were established in 1990.[1] At the time, they supplanted the departments as the first-level administrative subdivisions of the country, with the departments being converted into second-level subdivisions. Two new regions were added in 1996.[1] Four new regions were added in 1997, and all the existing regions changed their names, bringing the total to 16.[1] In 2000, four of the regions were divided to create three more regions, bringing the total to 19.[1]

Prior to the 2011 reorganisation of the subdivisions of Ivory Coast, the 19 regions were the first-level subdivision of the country. In the reorganisation, districts were created and replaced regions as the first-level subdivisions and the 19 regions were reorganized into 30.[2][3] In 2012, one region was divided to create a 31st region.[4][5]

In 2014, the districts were abolished except for Abidjan and Yamoussoukro. Then in 2021 the former districts were reinstated as autonomous districts.[6]

Maps of regions through the time

Map Years effective First-level subdivisions Second-level subdivisions Third-level subdivisions Changes
1991–1996 10 regions 50 departments — Creation of regions
1996–1997 12 regions 55 departments — Two regions added.
1997–2000 16 regions 59 departments — Three regions added, all renamed.
2000–2011 19 regions 59, then 70, 72, 89, 94, 95 departments — Three regions added.
2011–2012 12 districts and 2 autonomous districts 30 regions 95 departments Districts established. New organization of regions.
2012–2014 12 districts and 2 autonomous districts 31 regions 107, then 108 departments One region added (Moronou).
2014–2021 31 regions and 2 autonomous districts 108, then 111 departments — Districts abolished.
2021– 14 autonomous districts 31 regions 111 departments 12 autonomous districts added, based on former districts

Governance and purpose

The executive of each region is headed by a prefect, who is appointed by the council of ministers (cabinet) of the national government.[7] For departments that house regional capitals, the prefect of the department is the same individual as the prefect of the region, though the two offices of prefect remain distinct.[8] The legislative body of the region is the Regional Council, which is elected and headed by a President.

The government of each region is responsible for designing and implementing programmes to improve the economic, social, and cultural life of the region.[7] Regions are also responsible for coordinating and harmonising the activities of their departmental governments and for implementing public interest projects established by the district or the national government.[7]

Regions

There are currently 31 regions of Ivory Coast. Two areas of the country, the autonomous districts of Abidjan and Yamoussoukro, are not divided into regions. The regions are as follows, with the date of creation in parentheses:

  1. Agnéby-Tiassa (2011)
  2. Bafing (2000)
  3. Bagoué (2011)
  4. Bélier Region (2011)
  5. Béré (2011)
  6. Bounkani (2011)
  7. Cavally (2011)
  8. Folon (2011)
  9. Gbêkê (2011)
  10. Gbôklé (2011)
  11. Gôh (2011)
  12. Gontougo (2011)
  13. Grands-Ponts (2011)
  14. Guémon (2011)
  15. Hambol (2011)
  16. Haut-Sassandra (1997)
  17. Iffou (2011)
  18. Indénié-Djuablin (2011)
  19. Kabadougou (2011)
  20. La Mé (2011)
  21. Lôh-Djiboua (2011)
  22. Marahoué (1997)
  23. Moronou (2012)
  24. Nawa (2011)
  25. N'Zi (2011)
  26. Poro (2011)
  27. San-Pédro (2011)
  28. Sud-Comoé (1997)
  29. Tchologo (2011)
  30. Tonkpi (2011)
  31. Worodougou (1997)
A. Abidjan Autonomous District (2011) (not a region or divided into regions)
B. Yamoussoukro Autonomous District (2011) (not a region or divided into regions)

The 14 autonomous districts (of which two are not subdivided into regions) and the 31 regions are listed below, with their regional seats and populations at the 2014 census.[9]

District District capital Regions Region seat Population
Abidjan
(District Autonome d'Abidjan) 		4,707,404
Bas-Sassandra
(District du Bas-Sassandra) 		San-Pédro Gbôklé Sassandra 400,798
Nawa Soubré 1,053,084
San-Pédro San-Pédro 826,666
Comoé
(District du Comoé) 		Abengourou Indénié-Djuablin Abengourou 560,432
Sud-Comoé Aboisso 642,620
Denguélé
(District du Denguélé) 		Odienné Folon Minignan 96,415
Kabadougou Odienné 193,364
Gôh-Djiboua
(District du Gôh-Djiboua) 		Gagnoa Gôh Gagnoa 876,117
Lôh-Djiboua Divo 729,169
Lacs
(District des Lacs) 		Dimbokro Bélier Yamoussoukro[10] 346,768
Iffou Daoukro 311,642
Moronou Bongouanou 352,616
N'Zi Dimbokro 247,578
Lagunes
(District des Lagunes) 		Dabou Agnéby-Tiassa Agboville 606,852
Grands-Ponts Dabou 356,495
La Mé Adzopé 514,700
Montagnes
(District des Montagnes) 		Man Cavally Guiglo 459,964
Guémon Duékoué 919,392
Tonkpi Man 992,564
Sassandra-Marahoué
(District du Sassandra-Marahoué) 		Daloa Haut-Sassandra Daloa 1,430,960
Marahoué Bouaflé 862,344
Savanes
(District des Savanes) 		Korhogo Bagoué Boundiali 375,687
Poro Korhogo 763,852
Tchologo Ferkessédougou 467,958
Vallée du Bandama
(District de la Vallée du Bandama) 		Bouaké Gbêkê Bouaké 1,010,849
Hambol Katiola 429,977
Woroba
(District du Woroba) 		Séguéla Béré Mankono 389,758
Bafing Touba 183,047
Worodougou Séguéla 272,334
Yamoussoukro
(District Autonome du Yamoussoukro) 		355,573
Zanzan
(District du Zanzan) 		Bondoukou Bounkani Bouna 267,167
Gontougo Bondoukou 667,185

Regions before 2011

Before a reorganization in 2011, the regions were the first-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast. The 19 regions that existed immediately prior to the reorganisation were as follows, with their creation date in parentheses:[11]

  1. Agnéby (1997)
  2. Bafing (2000)
  3. Bas-Sassandra (1997)
  4. Denguélé (1997)
  5. Dix-Huit Montagnes (1997)
  6. Fromager (2000)
  7. Haut-Sassandra (1997)
  8. Lacs (1997)
  9. Lagunes (1997)
  10. Marahoué (1997)
  11. Moyen-Cavally (2000)
  12. Moyen-Comoé (1997)
  13. N'Zi-Comoé (1997)
  14. Savanes (1997)
  15. Sud-Bandama (1997)
  16. Sud-Comoé (1997)
  17. Vallée du Bandama (1997)
  18. Worodougou (1997)
  19. Zanzan (1997)

As is the case now, regions were further divided into departments.

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b c d Sato (2003).
  2. ^ "Décentralisation : Le gouvernement créé 12 districts et 30 régions", abidjan.net, 29 September 2011.
  3. ^ Décret n°2011-263 du 28 septembre 2011 portant organisation du territoire national en Districts et en Régions.
  4. ^ "Conseil des Ministres du mercredi 04 Juillet 2012 : De nouvelles entités administratives créées", abidjan.net, 5 July 2012.
  5. ^ Décret n° 2012-612 du 04 juillet 2012 portant création de la Région du Moronou.
  6. ^ ""DECENTRALISATION : 12 NOUVEAUX DISTRICTS AUTONOMES CREES". gouv.ci. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Loi n° 2014-451 du 5 août 2014 portant orientation de l'organisation générale de l'Administration Territoriale.
  8. ^ Ordonnance n° 2011-262 du 28 septembre 2011 portant orientation de l'organisation générale de l'administration territoriale de l'Etat.
  9. ^ "Districts of Côte d'Ivoire". Statoids. Institut National de la Statistique, Côte d'Ivoire.
  10. ^ While Yamoussoukro is the seat of Bélier region, the city itself is not part of the region.
  11. ^ "Regions of Côte d'Ivoire". Statoids.
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