Alassane Ouattara

A major political crisis unfolded after the 2010 election.

It was hotly disputed because the incumbent president the incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to accept defeat to Alassane Ouattara.

That standoff escalated into a civil war, not just a regular coup d'etat.

Forces loyal to Ouattara eventually took Abidjan and Gbagbo faced charges at the International Criminal Court, the ICC.

After Bédier, there was Robert Gay, who led a military junta after the 1999 coup d'etat.

In 2000, Laurent Gbagbo was elected and served until the civil war in 2010.

Alassane Ouattara was elected in 2010, and he remains in power today.

So the Constitution of Cote d'Ivoire states that the president may only serve two five-year terms.

Guinea and Ivory Coast have agreed to strengthen cooperation on security, trade, and political affairs.

Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya held talks with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Sunday following his arrival in the Ivorian commercial capital on Friday.

President Doumbouya called for greater intelligence sharing between the two countries, particularly in tackling cross-border crime and terrorism.

He said peace and stability were essential for development as the region faces growing security threats.

A statement from President Alassane Ouattara's office said Mr. Doumbouya described the issue as a strategic priority.

Shares in Africa's largest oil refinery have gone on sale in Nigeria in what is expected to become the continent's biggest ever initial public offering, or IPO.

The initial public offering for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals opened on Monday, with owner Aliko Dangote seeking to raise about one point six billion US dollars.