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| Bouaké Bwake |
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  Bouaké
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country |   Côte d'Ivoire |
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| Region | Vallée du Bandama |
| department | Bouaké |
| Boroughs |
List
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| Elevation [1] | 312Â m (1,024Â ft) |
| Population (2002) | |
| Â -Â Total | 775,300 |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
Bouaké (or Bwake) is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 (2002 census), and also the department of which the city is the center. Bouaké Department and Bouaké City lie in Vallée du Bandama Region.
Its economy is based on the cotton industry. It is a centre for Baoulé people and is known for crafts. The city largely grew from the 1970s after the construction of the Kossou Dam flooded land to the west. Bouaké is known for its large carnival and market and for St Michael's Cathedral (Bouaké). The city has a large airport to the north-west of town with a 3,300 metres (11,000 ft) runway.
Geography
The city is located in the central part of the country about 50Â kilometres (31Â mi) northeast of Kossousees, the largest lake in the Ivory Coast, some 350Â kilometres (220Â mi) north of Abidjan on the Abidjan- Niger Railway and about 100Â kilometres (62Â mi) northeast of the country capital, Yamoussoukro.
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 and United Nations peacekeepers 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.
Economy
Tobacco products, building materials, and textiles are produced, and cotton sisal and rice are processed. Gold, mercury, and manganese are found nearby.
Education
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Higher education Primary Schools
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Secondary Schools
Private
Public Colleges
Private Colleges
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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 |
Sport
Sister cities
Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France
Reutlingen, Germany
External links
References
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Related links