Houphouët-Boigny, Félix

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Houphouët-Boigny, Félix (1905–93) Ivory Coast statesman, first president (1960–93). He served in the French colonial government, becoming president on independence. His control remained almost absolute. Maintaining close relations with France, the Ivory Coast became one of the more affluent countries in West Africa. In the 1980s, a recession, exacerbated by expenditure on grandiose projects, caused mounting unrest and he was forced to legalize opposition parties in 1990.

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