Within the past twenty years Ivory Coast have fought two civil wars 2002-2007 and 2010-11. The outcome, very devastating especially on infrastructures
Ivory Coast’s hosting of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will further accelerate the country’s impressive rebound since its civil war ended in 2011.
By its own admission, the government has invested at least $1 billion on hosting the tournament, which kicked off on Saturday, having built four new stadiums while renovating two others.
In addition, airports, roads, hospitals and hotels have been either constructed or upgraded in the five cities that will stage matches; Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and the capital Yamoussoukro.
In the West African nation’s biggest rebuilding exercise since the civil wars of 2002-2007 and 2010-11, some of the massive spend stems from a $3.5bn loan taken out, external with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last April.
Some $79m,, external$84m, external and $113m, external has been spent respectively on building new stadiums in Yamoussoukro, Korhogo and Abidjan, namely the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium, while the refurbishment of Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet-Boigny venue cost another $109m., external
Originally constructed in 1964, the latter staged Nations Cup matches when Ivory Coast last hosted in 1984, with Bouake’s stadium, built for those finals, the other stadium used.
Since the end of the civil wars, which displaced more than a million people, Ivory Coast has surged financially.
Thanks to significant government investment and the strong performance of its two main exports – coffee and cocoa (with Ivory Coast the world’s largest exporter) – the country’s economy looks set to become West Africa’s second biggest.
In 2013, the GDPs of Ivory Coast and Ghana were $43bn and $63bn respectively whereas the IMF’s 2022 figures show the gap had closed, with the countries proclaiming GDPs of $70bn and $73bn (with both still significantly behind oil-rich Nigeria’s $477bn.)
Abidjan accounts for roughly 80% of the country’s economic product and, with the Nations Cup being hosted around the country, the hope is that San Pedro in the south, Yamoussoukro and Bouake in the centre and Korhogo in the north will start to close the gap.
