The Baoulé country occupies central Côte d'Ivoire, between the Bandama and the N'Zi, in the area known as the "V Baoulé". It holds the country's two biggest inland cities, Bouaké and Yamoussoukro, as well as Sakassou, the former royal seat.
Bouaké
The second city of Côte d'Ivoire, with about 740,000 inhabitants at the 2021 census, Bouaké is the capital of the Gbêkê region. Founded in 1899 as a French military post, it has prospered on trade, textiles and agricultural processing. Between 2002 and 2010 it was held by rebel forces during the Ivorian conflict; recovery began from 2011. The Stade de la Paix, built in 1984, hosted matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Yamoussoukro
The country's third city, with 422,072 inhabitants in 2021, Yamoussoukro has been the political capital of Côte d'Ivoire since March 1983, when President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was born there, made it the seat of power. About 240 km north-west of Abidjan, it is an autonomous district of 2,075 km². It is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, consecrated on 10 September 1990 by Pope John Paul II and described as the largest Christian church in the world, and lies near the Kossou dam.
Sakassou and Other Towns
| Town | Region or district | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Bouaké | Gbêkê | Second city of the country; former military post of 1899 |
| Yamoussoukro | Autonomous district | Political capital since 1983; Basilica of Our Lady of Peace |
| Sakassou | Gbêkê | Former royal seat of the Baoulé |
| Béoumi | Gbêkê | Town of the "V Baoulé" |
| Toumodi | Bélier | Town on the Abidjan–Yamoussoukro road |
| Tiébissou | Bélier | Crossroads of the centre of the country |
| Dimbokro | N'Zi | Capital of the N'Zi region |
| Bocanda | N'Zi | Town of the "V Baoulé" |
| Daoukro | Iffou | Capital of the Iffou region |
| M'Bahiakro | Iffou | Town of the Iffou |