The French government, the former colonial power in the Ivory Coast, now says its soldiers are staying there to help protect the government of President Laurent Gbagbo from rebel forces. The imperialist troops, allegedly providing "logistical support," are stationed alongside pro-government forces north of the capital city, Yamoussoukro.

Washington had invaded the capital of Ivory Coast on September 25 with more than 200 U.S. troops, mostly Special Forces. Those forces are now "on standby" in neighboring Ghana.

Since a failed coup attempt on September 19 antigovernment soldiers have gained control of much of the northern region of the country. After a brief pause, fighting resumed October 6 as government forces initiated a military offensive against rebel-controlled towns.

The government has been systematically burning down shantytowns in the major coastal city of Abidjan where immigrant workers, mainly from Burkina Faso, live. Three of the 5 million immigrant workers in Ivory Coast are Burkinabé. Government and paramilitary forces have been waging attacks on immigrants and the Muslim population in the north.

French imperialism, both during and since the end of direct colonial rule, has sought to foster religious and social divisions in Ivory Coast--between Christians and Muslims, and between those born in the country and immigrants from Burkina Faso--to maintain its economic dominance. Ivory Coast buys 26 percent of its imports from France and sells France 15 percent of all exports. The debt to imperialist banks held by the Ivorian government is $13.9 billion.

The world’s largest producer of cocoa beans, Ivory Coast has the second largest economy in the region behind Nigeria. U.S. and other imperialist investors have been eyeing potentially large oil and gas reserves off the country’s coast.  
 
 
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