HOUPHOUET-BOIGNYS INTEGRATIONIST POLICY AND THE INTEGRATION OF LEBANESE IN COTE DIVOIRE (1960-1993)

Felix Houphouet-Boigny was President of the Republic of Cote dIvoire between 1960 and 1993. During his reign, he undertook a policy of openness which encouraged a large number of foreign immigrants, including Lebanese from the Middle East. According to the 1988 Population and Housing Census, foreign communities, dominated by West Africans, represented 28% of the total population. Alongside these, there is a minority from the Middle East, the Lebanese. In fact, present in the country since the beginning of colonisation, they are rooted and have strengthened their economic and social position during the post-colonial period. Drawing on oral and printed sources, books and articles, this study analyses the actions of Felix Houphouet-Boigny on the Levantine community from 1960 to 1993. This work first presents the actions of President Felix Houphouet-Boigny and then their economic and social consequences on the Lebanese in Cote dIvoire.