Official name

République de Côte d'Ivoire

Form of state

Unitary republic

Legal system

Based on the July 2000 constitution and the Napoleonic Code

National legislature

National Assembly; 225 members elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term

National elections

October 2000 (presidential) and December 2000 (legislative); both polls were scheduled for late 2005 but were repeatedly postponed; the presidential election finally took place on October 31st 2010, and a second-round run-off on November 28th; the legislative election was due to follow but has been tentatively scheduled for later in 2011

Head of state

Alassane Ouattara

National government

Two rival governments have been formed, neither of which has been internationally recognised; the results of the second round of the November presidential election were disputed; both candidates claimed victory and named rival cabinets; once Mr Ouattara is finally inaugurated as president in May, he is expected to name a new cabinet

Main political parties

The main parties are Front populaire ivoirien (FPI), Parti démocratique de Côte d'Ivoire-Rassemblement démocratique africain (PDCI-RDA-known as the PDCI), Union pour la démocratie et la paix en Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI), Rassemblement des républicains (RDR), Parti ivoirien des travailleurs (PIT), and Union démocratique et citoyenne (UDCY); there are also three main rebel movements, collectively referred to as the Forces nouvelles, which are likely to become political parties or to merge with other parties: Mouvement patriotique de Côte d'Ivoire (MPCI), Mouvement pour la justice et la paix (MJP) and Mouvement populaire ivoirien du Grand-Ouest (MPIGO)

The make-up of the government is disputed

Governor of the regional central bank (BCEAO)

Jean-Baptiste Compaoré (interim)