Bouaké

Bouaké Bwake
City, sub-prefecture, and commune
University hospital complex of Bouaké
Bouaké Location within Ivory Coast
Coordinates: 7°41′N 5°1′W / 7.683°N 5.017°W / 7.683; -5.017
Country	Ivory Coast
District	Vallée du Bandama
Region	Gbêkê
Department	Bouaké
Founded	1899
Area
• City, sub-prefecture, and commune	71.788 km2 (27.718 sq mi)
Elevation	312 m (1,024 ft)
Population (2014)
• City, sub-prefecture, and commune	536,189
• Density	7,500/km2 (19,000/sq mi)
• Metro	680,694
Time zone	GMT (UTC+0)
Website	mairiebke.e-monsite.com

Bouaké (or Bwake) is the second-largest city in Ivory Coast, with a population of 536,189 (2014 census). It is the seat of three levels of subdivision—Vallée du Bandama District, Gbêkê Region, and Bouaké Department. The city is located in the central part of Ivory Coast about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Lake Kossou, the country's largest lake. It is approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) north of Abidjan on the Abidjan-Niger Railway and about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Yamoussoukro, the capital of the country.

Bouaké is a centre for the Baoulé people and is known for its crafts. The economy is based on the cotton industry. The city largely grew from the 1970s after the construction of the power station at Kossou Lake flooded land to the west of the city. Bouaké is known for its large carnival and market and for the St Michael's Cathedral. The city has a large airport located north-west of the city with a 3,300 metres (10,800 ft) runway. Celtic F.C defender Kolo Touré and his brothers Yaya Touré and Ibrahim Touré were born in Bouaké.

Bouaké was established as a French military post in 1899 and has been an administrative center since 1914.

French and United Nations peacekeepers currently reside in the city as part of an enforced ceasefire between the rebel-held north and the government-held south. After the attempt to overthrow the president Laurent Gbagbo had failed, the rebel forces FN (forces nouvelles) led by Guillaume Soro made Bouaké their center of control. Subsequently, Bouaké University, opened in 1996, was closed down in September 2002. Financed by Unesco, the university reopened in April, 2005.