Bouaké
Encyclopedia
Bouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire
, with a population of 775,300 (2002 census
). It is the main urban settlement of the Bouaké Department
with a population exceeding 1.2 million, in the Vallée du Bandama Region. The city is located in the central part of Côte d'Ivoire about 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) northeast of Lake Kossou
, the country's largest lake, some 350 kilometres (217.5 mi) north of Abidjan
on the Abidjan-Niger Railway and about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) northeast of Yamoussoukro
, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire.
Bouaké is a centre for the Baoulé people and is known for its crafts. The economy is based on the cotton
industry. The city largely grew from the 1970s after the construction of the power station at Kossou Lake
flooded land to the west of the city. Bouaké is known for its large carnival
and market and for the St Michael's Cathedral. The city has a large airport
located north-west of the city with a 3300 metres (10,826.8 ft) runway. Manchester City F.C defender Kolo Touré
and his brothers Yaya Touré
and Ibrahim Touré
were born in Bouaké.
French
and United Nations
peacekeeper
s 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 Sukhoi-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.
Kolo Touré
of Manchester City was born in Bouaké.
Yaya Toure
, Kolo's brother was also born in Bouaké.
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, with a population of 775,300 (2002 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
). It is the main urban settlement of the Bouaké Department
Bouaké Department
Bouaké Department is one of the departments of Côte d'Ivoire. It is one of five departments of Vallée du Bandama Region....
with a population exceeding 1.2 million, in the Vallée du Bandama Region. The city is located in the central part of Côte d'Ivoire about 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) northeast of Lake Kossou
Lake Kossou
Lake Kossou is the largest lake in Côte d'Ivoire. It lies in the center of the country on the Bandama River. It is an artificial lake, created in 1973 by the construction of the Kossou Dam at Kossou. Some 85,000 Baoulé people were displaced by the lake....
, the country's largest lake, some 350 kilometres (217.5 mi) north of Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
on the Abidjan-Niger Railway and about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) northeast of Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro
The District of Yamoussoukro is the official political capital and administrative capital city of Côte d'Ivoire, while the economic capital of the country is Abidjan. As of 2010, it was estimated to have 242,744 inhabitants...
, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire.
Bouaké is a centre for the Baoulé people and is known for its crafts. The economy is based on the cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
industry. The city largely grew from the 1970s after the construction of the power station at Kossou Lake
Kossou Dam
The Kossou Power Station is a hydroelectric power plant of the Bandama River in Ivory Coast. It has a power generating capacity of 176 MW enough to power over 118,000 homesThe dam created the largest lake in Cote D'Ivoire, Lake Kossou...
flooded land to the west of the city. Bouaké is known for its large carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
and market and for the St Michael's Cathedral. The city has a large airport
Bouaké Airport
Bouaké Airport is an airport located in Bouaké, the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, in West Africa.-June 29, 2007 assassination attempt on Guillaume Soro:...
located north-west of the city with a 3300 metres (10,826.8 ft) runway. Manchester City F.C defender Kolo Touré
Kolo Touré
Kolo Habib Touré is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Manchester City and Ivory Coast. Touré is a central defender. He is the elder brother of Manchester City team-mate Yaya Touré and Makasa's Ibrahim Touré.-Arsenal:...
and his brothers Yaya Touré
Yaya Touré
Gnégnéri Yaya Touré , commonly known as Yaya Touré, is an Ivorian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Côte d'Ivoire national side...
and Ibrahim Touré
Ibrahim Touré
Ibrahim Oyala Touré is an Ivorian football playerHe is the brother of Manchester City players Kolo Touré and Yaya Touré.-Career:...
were born in Bouaké.
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 |
History
Bouaké was established as a French military post in 1899 and has been an administrative center since 1914.French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeper
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
s currently reside in the city as part of an enforced ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
between the rebel-held north and the government-held south. After the attempt to overthrow the president Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Koudou Gbagbo served as the fourth President of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 until his arrest in April 2011. A historian by profession, he is also an amateur chemist and physicist....
had failed, the rebel forces FN
Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire
The Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire is a political coalition that was formed in December 2002, in the wake of the first peace accords of the Ivorian Civil War.-Composition:FNCI includes these political parties:...
(forces nouvelles) led by Guillaume Soro
Guillaume Soro
Guillaume Kigbafori Soro has served as the Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire since 4 April 2007...
made Bouaké their center of control. Subsequently, Bouaké University, opened in 1996, was closed down in September 2002. Financed by Unesco
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, the university reopened in April, 2005.
On November 4, 2004, governmental forces used Sukhoi-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
Korhogo
Korhogo is a town in Korhogo Department in the north-central region of Côte d'Ivoire. It has a population of 174,000 . It produces and/or processes goods such as cotton, kapok, rice, millet, peanuts, corn, yams, sheep, goats and diamonds. The town was on an important pre-colonial trade route to...
, 225 km north of Bouaké, was also targeted.
Economy
Tobacco products, building materials, and textiles are produced, and cotton sisal and rice are processed. Gold, mercury, and manganese are found nearby.Education
Higher education Publique
Primary Schools Public
|
Secondary Schools Public
Private
Public Colleges
Private Colleges
|
Administration
| 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 |
Religion
The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bouaké. The catherdral of the archdiocese is the Cathédrale Sainte Thérèse in Bouaké. However, the city is predominantly Muslim.Sport
- Stade BouakéStade BouakéStade Bouaké is a multi-use stadium in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 35,000 people. Along with Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, it was constructed for the 1984 African Nations Cup. It is the second largest stadium in the country after...
Kolo Touré
Kolo Touré
Kolo Habib Touré is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Manchester City and Ivory Coast. Touré is a central defender. He is the elder brother of Manchester City team-mate Yaya Touré and Makasa's Ibrahim Touré.-Arsenal:...
of Manchester City was born in Bouaké.
Yaya Toure
Yaya Touré
Gnégnéri Yaya Touré , commonly known as Yaya Touré, is an Ivorian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Côte d'Ivoire national side...
, Kolo's brother was also born in Bouaké.
External links
- Bouaké Travel Guide from World66