Pray for Cote d'Ivoire

Beautiful coastal lagoons, dense forests, and lively savannas make Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) the “Jewel of West Africa.” Coffee plants, large palm trees, and cocoa farms make Côte d’Ivoire a world producer of coffee, palm oil, and cocoa. Farmers there produce about 40 percent of the world’s cocoa beans used in chocolate. These industries have made Côte D’Ivoire one of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies. With more than 60 indigenous tribes, this former French colony is a nation of great ethnic diversity. Even a 30-minute drive can bring different music, art, festivals, and languages.

Despite its progress, Côte d’Ivoire is still recovering from years of political instability. In 1999, the nation’s second president was ousted from power by a military coup. In the following years, the nation suffered two major civil wars and political unrest. Since the end of its second civil war in 2011, stability and growth have returned, but the nation still deals with corruption and economic instability. The population remains heavily dependent on cocoa production. Cocoa farmers earn very little pay for their work, and a year with a poor harvest makes providing for families even harder. Côte d’Ivoire has faced a long, difficult struggle against HIV and AIDS, but the expansion of life-saving treatments has been a major victory for the country.

Like most of West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire is largely split between a Muslim North and Christian South. The two religious groups each make up about 40 percent of the population. Though ethnic and religious divisions in the country can cause instability, the Church continues to reach across these barriers. Christianity is growing, and some churches are being planted among Muslim communities. The Institut Biblique Bethel has played an important role in training leaders and pastors for the growing Church, though the cost of books and biblical resources can make training difficult. The mixing of traditional African beliefs with Christianity also hurts the Church, and a solid understanding of Scripture is greatly needed among Christians.