Not long ago, the economic growth prospect in West Africa was on the rise—and strengthening. The chronic instability and eruptions of violence that used to characterise everyday life, making African communities feel they are not in charge of their own destiny, had seemed to be drowned out by the “Africa Rising” chorus. That may no longer hold true.
However, some in Africa, notably in Côte d’Ivoire, are not waiting to find out whether this remarkable turnaround is a momentary detour from democratic growth, or something more sinister. They are prepared to take a stand.
Ivorians gathered recently in Abidjan to launch Côte d’Ivoire Terrésiliente, a campaign that aims to empower African communities to take control of their economic destinies, and protect the hard work invested in laying the foundation for economic prosperity and stability.
If West Africa has a history of instability, why are we Africans increasingly concerned by the re-emergence of coups d’état?
One reason the recent coups are getting more attention than they did in the past is the dangerous reality that economic progress in a number of countries in the region is much more at stake than ever before. Nigeria and other larger economies like Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal recognize that instability in their neighborhood can be a contagion that will disrupt their efforts to increase economic investment, trade, and opportunities. They have urgent political and economic interests in minimising the spill-over effects across Africa’s traditionally porous borders.
They also fear that outside influences are making instability more dangerous. Since the coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, those countries have turned to Foreign armed groups to help provide security. These groups have become omnipresent in West Africa. In addition to the elusive diplomatic cooperation and outright political interference, there are more grave economic and security dynamics at stake.
Against this backdrop, those influential economies in West Africa have taken on the role of mediators to prevent chaos, especially considering the heavy interference in Africa’s day-to-day politics.
Putting resilience to the test in Côte d’Ivoire
Since COVID-19, Côte d’Ivoire has done more than weather the storm. In 2020, it was one of the few African economies to avoid recession; since 2021, it has continued to significantly outperform its regional peers. After a strong upturn in economic activity to 7.4% in 2021, real GDP growth remained high at 6.7% in 2022.
As the world’s largest producer and exporter of cocoa and a leading producer of cashew, the country is investing in several structural reforms that will make it possible to increase national capacities for the processing of raw cashew nuts and cocoa.
Côte d’Ivoire’s impressive economic growth comes on the back of a post-electoral crisis in 2011. Since then, political stability has played a significant role in supporting economic prosperity. The government has invested heavily in national reconciliation and inclusive elections, recognizing that a stable political environment sets the stage for further economic development and investment.
The capacity of the Ivorian economy to maintain a strong growth trajectory will be tested by the succession of shocks in the region. Recently, this concern is even more relevant given that three of its neighboring countries have seen coups d’état.
Is Côte d’Ivoire now vulnerable to the costs associated with political instability that is greatly disrupting daily life in some of its peripheries? Indeed. Traditionally, countries in Africa have exported their conflicts and combatants to their neighbors.
The Path Forward: The Côte d’Ivoire Terrésiliente campaign
Côte d’Ivoire’s remarkable progress serves as an inspiration for other countries in West Africa and beyond.
The Terrésiliente campaign, a groundbreaking initiative, has recently been unveiled in Abidjan, and it is poised to reshape the narrative around economic sovereignty and stability in the region. We are proud to present the launch of the Terrésiliente campaign, because Côte d’Ivoire’s status as an economic hub in West Africa enhances the significance of its responsibility to step up as a model of African economic sovereignty bred in peace and stability.
