National Order of the Ivory Coast

The National Order of the Ivory Coast (sometimes simply mentioned as National Order) is the highest state order of knighthood of the Ivory Coast.

History
The Order was founded on 10 April 1961 to celebrate the independence of the Ivory Coast which was until 1960 a French colony. As the highest state honour, it is awarded to those who have highly distinguished themselves to the service to the state. The collar Collar is awarded solely to foreign heads of state.

Insignia
The medal of the order is constituted of a white-enamelled cross of Malta, bordered in red, surrounded by a green crown of laurel. At the centre of the cross in a gold medallion showing a frontal elephant surrounded by a crown of laurel, the whole surrounded by a green-enamelled ring with golden inscription "REPUBLIQUE DE COTE D'IVOIRE" ("Republic of Ivory Coast").

The plaque shows the same design as the medal but the cross is put upon a silver radiating star.

The ribbon of the order is dark orange.

Grades
The Order is subdivided in five ordinary grades, plus a special class of the Collar:
 * Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national GC ribbon.svg Collar
 * Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national GC ribbon.svg Grand Cross
 * Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national GO ribbon.svg Grand Officer
 * Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national Commandeur ribbon.svg Commander
 * Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national Officier ribbon.svg Officer
 * Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national Chevalier ribbon.svg Knight

Recipients

 * Affoussiata Bamba-Lamine
 * Marie-Thérèse Bocoum
 * Jean-Bédel Bokassa
 * André Chouraqui
 * Jacques Diouf
 * Sadio Gassama
 * Édouard Guillaud
 * Gaylord Harnwell
 * Jean Herly
 * Festus Mogae
 * Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)
 * Samuel L. Myers Sr.
 * Ahmadou Lamine Ndiaye
 * Jacqueline Oble
 * Benoît Puga
 * Bernard Rogel
 * Fadika Sarra Sako
 * Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
 * Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos
 * Arthur Young (police officer)
 * Joseph Boayue, former Liberian Secretary of Public Works
 * Grand Crosses
 * Aga Khan IV
 * Akihito
 * Beatrix of the Netherlands
 * Jean-Bédel Bokassa
 * Elizabeth II
 * Levi Eshkol
 * Princess Margriet of the Netherlands
 * Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
 * Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
 * Pieter van Vollenhoven