Abidjan (Cote d'Iviore)

Last modified: 2017-05-28 by bruce berry
Keywords: congo | brazzaville | star: 5 points (yellow) | hammer | hoe | palm leaves |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• Background

• Flag of Abidjan

See also:

• Côte d'Ivoire
• Côte d'Ivoire - national index

Background

Abidjan is the largest city in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) located in the south-east of the country on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean.  It is the centre of economic activity in the country and was the capital city of the country until 1983 when Yamoussoukro was named the political capital.

The District of Abidjan (4,707,404 inhabitants in 2014, or nearly 20% of the country's total population) was established by Law No. 478, adopted on 09 August 2001 by the National  Assembly.  The District includes the communes of Abobo, Adjamé, Anyama, Attécoubé, Bingerville, Cocody, Koumassi, Marcory, Plateau, Port-Bouët, Songon, Treichville, and Yopougon.

The territorial reform implemented in 2011 established the Districts as the highest level of administrative subdivision, superseding the Regions. The former Regions were reorganized as the second level of subdivision, while the Departments were made the third level of subdivision.

The current status of the Autonomous District of Abidjan was established by Law No. 453, adopted on 05 August 2014 by the National Assembly.

Article 2.
The Autonomous District of Abidjan regroups the Communes and the Sous-préfectures of the Department of Abidjan.  The territorial limits of the Autonomous District of Abidjan are the same as those of the Department d'Abidjan (see its official website).
Ivan Sache, 16 Apr 2017
 

Flag of Abidjan

The flag of the District of Abidjan comprises three equal vertical stripes of blue, white and blue, with the city Arms in the centre of the white stripe.
Tomislav Šipek, 15 Apr 2017

The arms of the District of Abidjan might have been derived from the colonial arms of the town of Abidjan. The colonial ship sailing on the Ébrié Lagoon between two palms was replaced by a traditional canoe, the colonial chief was dropped, two elephant tusks and a scroll inscribed with a local motto were added.
Ivan Sache, 16 Apr 2017