Vallee du Bandama District

Vallée du Bandama exists because the Bandama River exists—Côte d'Ivoire's longest waterway cutting north-south through the country's center, creating fertile valleys that have supported settlement since precolonial times. Bouaké, the district capital and Côte d'Ivoire's second city (536,000 residents), emerged where north-south and east-west trade routes intersected, making it the natural commercial hub of the interior.

The district demonstrates secondary city dynamics in a primate city-dominated economy. While Abidjan concentrates 39% of WAEMU GDP, Bouaké provides an alternative pole that could distribute development more broadly—if infrastructure investment reaches it. The 2010-2011 civil war that split the country along north-south lines left Bouaké under rebel control, creating reconstruction needs that persist alongside development potential. With nearly 2 million district residents, Vallée du Bandama represents a critical mass for decentralization.

Bouaké's economy mixes manufacturing, commerce, and agricultural processing in patterns distinct from coastal Abidjan. The city's textile industry, food processing, and role as distribution hub for the northern regions create diversification that Abidjan's port-focused economy lacks. By 2026, Vallée du Bandama's trajectory depends on whether Côte d'Ivoire's 7% growth translates into genuine spatial redistribution or continues concentrating in the primate capital—a test of whether secondary cities can capture development momentum.