Houphouët-Boigny, Félix

Houphouët-Boigny, Félix (b. 18 Oct. 1905?, d. 7 Dec. 1993). President of the Ivory Coast 1960–93 Born in Yamoussoukro, he was one of the first Africans in the French colony to graduate in medicine. His first wife was of royal descent, and in 1940 he himself was appointed regional chief of the Akuwe people. He established his leadership through the foundation of the Association of Customary Chiefs, and his presidency of the Syndicat Agricole Africain (African Agricultural Trade Union), a movement founded in protest against racial discrimination among planters. He represented the Ivory Coast in the French Constituent Assemblies (1945–6) and the National Assembly (until 1958), where he successfully introduced a measure calling for the abolition of all forced labour throughout the French colonies. Back home, he was supported by the Parti Démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast). At first allied with the Communist Party, he broke with it in 1950 and cooperated with the French to build up the country's economy. After holding several ministerial posts in France he returned to the Ivory Coast when it was offered self-government within the French Community. With full independence in 1960 he became President of the new Republic. An astute and pragmatic politician, he maintained power mainly by playing off various contenders for his position against each other. In addition, his pro-Western (particularly pro-French) capitalist policies created a powerful elite, whose welfare was tied to his survival in power. He died in office.