Privatisation and service industries could help. The unrest has taken on ethnic and xenophobic dimensions as well, which are likely to ensure another rocky year for West Africa's one-time beacon of stability. Economic Outlook Economic woes are at the heart of much of Cote d' Ivoire's political turmoil and with the current slump in commodity prices not expected to turn around, the Ivorian economy has little hope of making progress in 2001. This said, the fundamentals for a return to growth are in place should domestic considerations allow. Presidential elections are scheduled for late in 2001 and there is unease at the attempts of the ruling party to tinker with the constitution.
Opposition is strong and vocal however - a healthy sign in Africa.
Economic Outlook Tiny and surrounded by Senegal except on the Atlantic coast, Gambia is an impoverished country. The government has ambitious plans however, to transform the Gambia into the 'Singapore of Africa' over a twenty year period. With the ruling party out of power for the first time in twenty years, and a new leader for the first time in as long, nervous glances were cast at events in Cote d' Ivoire. Ghana has provided a fairly seamless change however and remains stable in a fractious area. There are high levels of expectation amongst the unemployed of the new government, although 2001 is unlikely to bring much relief.