Abidjan
Region
Abidjan [ abid͡ʒa ː n, French abidʒɑ ] is the largest urban agglomeration in Ivory Coast and a district in the region Lagunes on the Gulf of Guinea. Abidjan was 1933-1983, the country's capital. In 2002 the ten urban districts were upgraded to independent communities and abolished the mayor office. Since that Abidjan from ten cities and three sub-prefectures. The former town grew rapidly from 65,000 in 1950 to a metropolitan area with 3,692,570 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2005). According to the calculations of 2012, the city itself has already more than 4.3 million inhabitants, the metropolitan area has nearly 6.8 million.
History
The growth of the city of Abidjan, founded in 1886, began after the opening of the pier in 1931. Abidjan in 1933 became the capital of the French colony of Ivory Coast. After the opening of Vridi channel of the harbor into a major port was free. Although 1983 Yamoussoukro was determined by the then President Félix Houphouët-Boigny as the new capital, still there are numerous government offices and embassies, as well as the National Library and the National Museum in Abidjan. On 9 August 2001, it was decided to divide the city by 2002 in their ten circles and upgrade these to independent community. Since then, Abidjan is officially a district with a governor and unites these ten cities with three other.
On December 31, 2012 61 people died in a stampede during the central New Years Eve party and thank-you celebration of Alassane Ouattara ( killed for ongoing from December 2010 to April 2011 political power struggle with around 3000 people ) killed and more than 200 were injured.
Political Structure
Abidjan is divided into the following 10 municipalities or cities, each with its own city council and mayor:
- Abobo: mainly by immigrants from the countryside populated rapidly growing city with inadequate infrastructure and rather poor circumstances.
- Adjamé: small in area but large in economic importance due to widespread commercial activities which are handled here. This leads to major health problems of the population in the slums Adjamés.
- Attécoubé: is the National Park of the Banco forest on the territory of this municipality.
- Cocody: This city is known for its fine residential areas such as Deux- Plateaux or Riviera. Here is next to diplomats and government officials, especially celebrities and rich people. In addition, there are also the national university of the same name, as well as some private universities and adjacent to the state television RTI also the president's residence in Cocody.
- Koumassi: Mixed residential and industrial area
- Marcory: Some simple residential areas, in the center with Bietry and Zone 4, a once favored by Europeans inhabited quarter of the upper class
- Plateau: This community is the economic and largely political center, although since 1983 Yamoussoukro is the official administrative capital of the Ivory Coast. The palace of the President and the National Assembly are up to the present day in Plateau. The unusual in Africa Abidjan skyscrapers give a very modern look.
- Port Bouët: In this community there are the refineries of the Societe de Ivoirienne refining (SIR ), the international airport « Félix Houphouët- Boigny ," but also the district Adjouffou.
- Treichville: the real heart of Abidjan. In addition to the free port here is also the station of " Abidjan - Niger railway " to the north of the country and Burkina Faso to Ouagadougou. In addition to the port and therefore local industrial Treicheville is a commercial center for the inhabitants of the metropolis. A huge range of shops and activities offers an enormous variety of products. In addition, here are also many restaurants, cafes and - at night - a versatile nightlife with all its charms and dangers. But all this can not hide the fact that Treichville today is only a reflection of himself and a poor African city.
- Yopougon: The most populous city in the agglomeration of Abidjan is divided into residential and industrial areas.
In addition, include the three sub-prefectures Anyama, Songon and the former capital Bingerville (until 1933 ) to the district of Abidjan.
Traffic
The cities of Abobo, Adjamé, Attécoubé, Cocody, Plateau and Yopougon are on the mainland north of the Ebrié Lagoon. This is also where the name " Abidjan North ". Treichville, Koumassi, Marcory and port Bouët are part of Abidjan south. The two parts of the metropolis (only street ) connected between Treichville and plateau by two bridges, the Pont Houphouët- Boigny ( railroad and road) and the Pont Charles de Gaulle. In the peak hours the traffic breaks on the streets over the two bridges together every day several times. For this reason, the government studies was the time for a third bridge between Marcory and Cocody in order. In the face of political developments in the Ivory Coast since 1999, since then the rest planning services. Some parts of the city and to more distant locations on the Ebrié Lagoon consist ferry and boat connections. Abidjan has an international airport.
Business and education
Abidjan has a university and several technical colleges. In French- influenced metropolis today are still many Frenchmen to find important places of business, in particular but also very many Lebanese as owners of small factories and mainly engaged in trade.
Significant industries include automotive manufacturing, as well as the wood, chemical and textile industries. About the Port of Abidjan coffee, cocoa, timber and pineapples are shipped. In 2010, 42 percent of all cocoa beans were handled here world. In Abidjan, there are the headquarters of the major manufacturers Nestlé, Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland ( ADM) and Barry Callebaut, they buy almost all the cocoa crop in Ivory Coast.
The city is home to the Bourse Regionale of Valeurs mobilières, the Union Monétaire Ouest Africaine ( UMOA ) regional stock exchange.
Personalities
- Sam Dominique Abouo, football player
- Kanga Akalé, football player
- Rita Akaffou, soccer player
- Jacques Anouma, football official
- Aristide Bance, Burkina Faso football player
- Alpha Blondy, the " Bob Marley " Africa's
- Arthur Boka, football player
- Bernard Dadie Binlin, French-speaking writers
- Djelika Coulibaly, soccer player
- Isaach De Bankole, French actor
- Aruna, football player
- Constant Djakpa, football player
- Johan Djourou, the Swiss footballer
- Didier Drogba, Football Player
- Thierry Dusautoir, French rugby player
- Emmanuel Eboue, Football Player
- Jeanne Essoh, soccer player and former basketball player
- Lynda Marlène gauze, soccer player
- Max Gradel, football player
- Dramane Kamate, football player
- Abdul Kader Keïta, football player
- Aly Keïta, balafon player
- Gwenael Kerléo Breton harpist and composer
- Didier Ya Konan, football player
- Axel Cédric Konan Haouliais, football player
- Tiémoko Konaté, football player
- Arouna Koné, football player
- Bakary Koné, football player
- Blaise Kouassi, football player
- Marco André Zoro Kpolo, football player
- Koko Nguessan, soccer player
- Clovis Nicolas, a French jazz musician
- Romaric, football player
- Bakary Saré, football player
- Kouame Sereba, jazz and world musicians
- Ibrahim Sissoko, Football Player
- Siaka Tiéné, football player
- Jean -Jacques Tizié, football player
- Abdou Razack Traoré, football player
- Lacina Traore, Football Player
- Gilles Yapi Yapo, football player
- Didier Zokora, football player
Twinning
Abidjan maintains the following twinning (s):
- France Marseille, France ( 1958)
- Brazil São Paulo, Brazil ( 1981)
- China People's Republic of China in Tianjin
- United States San Francisco in the U.S.