<P> Félix Houphouët - Boigny ( ( feliks ufwɛ ( t ) bwaɲi ) ; 18 October 1905 -- 7 December 1993 ) , affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux ( The Old One ) , was the first President of Ivory Coast ( 1960 to 1993 ) , serving for more than three decades until his death . A tribal chief , he worked as a medical aide , union leader , and planter before being elected to the French Parliament . He served in several ministerial positions within the French government before leading Côte d'Ivoire following independence in 1960 . Throughout his life , he played a significant role in politics and the decolonization of Africa . </P>
<P> Félix Houphouët - Boigny ( ( feliks ufwɛ ( t ) bwaɲi ) ; 18 October 1905 -- 7 December 1993 ) , affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux ( The Old One ) , was the first President of Ivory Coast ( 1960 to 1993 ) , serving for more than three decades until his death . A tribal chief , he worked as a medical aide , union leader , and planter before being elected to the French Parliament . He served in several ministerial positions within the French government before leading Côte d'Ivoire following independence in 1960 . Throughout his life , he played a significant role in politics and the decolonization of Africa . </P>
who was the first president of ivory coast
who was the first president of ivory coast
Félix Houphouët - Boigny
Félix Houphouët - Boigny