2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump to the Ivorian government, without admitting wrongdoing in early 2007. A series of protests and resignations of Ivorian government officials followed this deal. In 2008, a civil lawsuit in London was launched by almost 30,000 Ivorians against Trafigura. In May 2009, Trafigura announced it would sue the BBC for libel after its "Newsnight" program alleged the company had knowingly sought to cover up its role in the incident. In September 2009 "The Guardian" obtained and published internal Trafigura emails showing that the traders responsible knew how dangerous the chemicals were. Trafigura agreed to a settlement of £30 million (US$42.4 million)
Lebanese people in Ivory Coast assimilate into Ivoirian society. The first President of Côte d'Ivoire, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, was a defender of the Lebanese minority during his early time in office. The Lebanese were particularly targeted by looters during the 2010–11 Ivorian crisis, after Lebanon’s ambassador to Ivory Coast, Ali Ajami, attended Laurent Gbagbo's presidential swearing-in ceremony (one of only two diplomats to do so), despite widespread support for his rival, Alassane Ouattara. Many Lebanese were also seen by Ivorians as being pro-Gbagbo. Lebanese people in Ivory Coast There is a large population of Lebanese people in Côte d'Ivoire, whose numbers are variously estimated in the