Bouaké

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Bouaké or Bwake (bwä´kā, bwäkā´), town (1996 est. pop. 462,300), central Côte d'Ivoire. It is a transportation hub and a commercial center and was once the crossroads for the caravan trade. Tobacco products, building materials, and textiles are produced, and cotton sisal and rice are processed. Gold, mercury, and manganese are found nearby. Following the 2002 rebellion by Ivoirian northerners, Bouaké became the main center for rebel forces.

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