French troops in Ivory Coast battle

The fighting in the Ivory Coast began as a dispute among disgruntled military factions but could evolve into a very dangerous civil war pitting southern Christians (and the current government) against northern Muslim rebels, with serious international implications.

At first France only intended to protect the thousands of French citizens in the country but now has actually entered the war on the side of the government.

La Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) was for a very long time one of the most stable and prosperous of the African states. It has oil and is the world’s leading producer of cocoa. The capitol Abidjan used to be a wonderful vacation spot in West Africa.