This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the historical factors that shaped the conflict in Côte d’Ivoire from independence through the early twenty-first century. It highlights how colonial legacies, especially policies of assimilation and indirect rule, deeply influenced the national identity and social cohesion, later contributing to tensions and conflict. The demographic changes of the twentieth century, marked by high birth rates and significant migration from neighbouring West African countries, increased ethnic diversity and regional ties. With over sixty ethnic groups maintaining cultural links across borders, internal migration further complicated the nation’s socio-political landscape. Economically, Côte d’Ivoire experienced prosperity during the 1960s and 1970s through its participation in global markets for coffee, cocoa, and timber, bolstered by foreign investment and cheap migrant labour. However, declining export prices and global economic shifts led to prolonged downturns, rising unemployment, and mounting debt. These economic challenges, exacerbated by austerity measures under structural adjustment programmes, have heightened social pressures and political instability. The country’s heavy reliance on export commodities left it vulnerable to external shocks. Politically, the shift from a one-party system under President Houphouët-Boigny to a multiparty democracy in 1990 marked a pivotal moment. Houphouët-Boigny’s death revealed deep ethnic, regional, and class divisions, resulting in violence, social unrest, and political struggles that culminated in civil conflict lasting until 2011. Overall, Côte d’Ivoire’s conflicts stem from intertwined historical legacies, socio-economic inequalities, and ethnic complexities.