Language Policy and Plurilingualism in Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire, according to the studies of Maurice Delafosse (1904) which has not been confirmed or invalidated until now, has around 60 languages. Côte d’Ivoire’s language policy has so far not favored a local language or languages. The French language has benefited from its status as an official language since 1960 and is preponderant and essential. French is subsequently a vehicular language. State projects (Projet Nord, PEI) for the promotion of local languages have emerged without having a significant impact. Private initiatives participate in the promotion of local languages across the entire territory with more or less convincing results. There is a glimmer of hope with the ELAN (School and National Languages in Africa) cross-border project to which Côte d’Ivoire has joined. This is a project that offers bi-multilingual education in national languages and in French. This project is still in the pilot stage. Obviously, there is a need to put in place a language policy that will promote the promotion and safeguarding of Ivorian languages.