According to petwithsupplies, Abidjan is the largest city in Ivory Coast and is located in the south-central part of the country. It is the economic and financial hub of Ivory Coast and has a population of around 4.7 million people. Abidjan is known for its vibrant nightlife, culture, and beaches which make it a popular tourist destination. The city is also home to many international companies, banks, and organizations which make it an important center for business in West Africa. Yamoussoukro is the second largest city in Ivory Coast with a population of about 800,000 people. It is located near the country’s border with Ghana and serves as an important political center as it is home to many government buildings including the Presidential Palace. Yamoussoukro also has several universities and colleges which attract students from across West Africa who come to study medicine, law, engineering, economics, and other fields. Bouake is another major city in Ivory Coast with a population of approximately 700,000 people. It is located in central Ivory Coast near its borders with Burkina Faso and Ghana and serves as an important commercial hub for many local businesses as well as international companies operating in the region. Bouake has several universities including Université de Bouaké which offers courses in business administration, engineering, law, medicine, physics, chemistry and other areas of study making it one of the most prestigious educational institutions in West Africa. San Pedro is located on the Atlantic coast of Ivory Coast with a population of about 300 000 people making it one of the most important port cities in West Africa. San Pedro serves as an important hub for trade between Europe, North America and other parts of West Africa due to its large port facilities. Additionally, San Pedro has become increasingly popular among tourists over recent years due to its beautiful beaches making it a great destination for travelers looking to relax on their holidays or explore some nearby nature reserves such as Comoé National Park or Taï National Park both located close by. Finally, Daloa is another major city located near Ivory Coast’s western border with Liberia with a population estimated at around 250 000 people making it one of the largest cities outside Abidjan or Yamoussoukro. Daloa has become an economic powerhouse due to its role as a major agricultural center producing coffee beans cocoa beans palm oil rubber timber among other products making it an important trading hub within western Ivory Coast. In 2008, Ivory Coast was a nation still reeling from a decade of civil war and unrest. The country had been divided since 2002, with the government controlling the southern region, while the rebel-held north was controlled by the Forces Nouvelles (FN) and their political wing, the Patriotic Movement of Côte d’Ivoire (MPCI). This internal conflict had resulted in numerous human rights abuses and had caused significant economic disruption. In addition to this, Ivory Coast’s position on the western coast of Africa made it vulnerable to external influences from other countries in the region. The Ivorian government was led by President Laurent Gbagbo since 2000 and he maintained close ties with France which had a strong presence in Ivory Coast due to its former colonial status. Gbagbo also sought support from other African nations such as Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria. However, his government faced strong opposition from the FN and MPCI which accused Gbagbo of corruption and mismanagement of public funds. In 2008, international efforts were underway to bring an end to the conflict in Ivory Coast with several ceasefire agreements being signed between Gbagbo’s government and rebel forces under UN auspices. However, these efforts were hampered by accusations that both sides failed to fully implement these agreements as well as by disagreements over power-sharing issues between Gbagbo’s camp and rebel leaders. In addition, there were also disagreements over foreign military intervention in Ivory Coast with some countries such as France supporting Gbagbo’s government while others such as Ghana favored a more neutral approach. Despite these issues, progress was made towards ending the conflict during 2008 with both sides agreeing to hold elections in October that year followed by a period of power-sharing between them until new elections could be held in 2010. Unfortunately this progress was derailed due to renewed fighting between Ivorian forces later that year resulting in further instability for Ivory Coast until 2011 when Alassane Ouattara became president following elections that were largely considered free and fair by international observers. Check eningbo for Ivory Coast in 2012.