Consolidating the Regional Diplomacy of Côte d’Ivoire

Photo © Flickr, Abdallahh
Photo © Flickr, Abdallahh

On every continent, regionalisation or even communitarisation of foreign relations has become one of the preferred policy approaches by states and other actors in search of synergies that add value to public policies conceptualised and implemented at a geographical group or sub-group level.

Côte d’Ivoire is not immune to this trend. After the glory days of its diplomacy under Félix Houphouët-Boigny and the rather more difficult period under Henri Konan Bédié, Robert Gueï and Laurent Gbago (1993–2010), the country has re-entered the international scene. While the relaunch of the regional diplomacy of Côte d’Ivoire is already showing some gains, challenges loom for the 2020 horizon when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims to achieve full economic and political union.

Read the occasional paper: Côte D’ivoire’s Comeback: The Revival of Ivorian Regional Diplomacy

The views expressed in this publication/article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

23 Oct 2014