The IMF says the Ivory Coast economy continues to grow and will post 8.5% this year, a tad down on last year’s 8.6%.

Inflation is also forecast to remain low in the world’s biggest cocoa grower, and biggest economy in west Africa, which is emerging as one of the continent’s success stories.

However the IMF prediction is more than one percent shy of the Budget ministry’s January forecast of 9.8% growth.

The country has overcome a decade of political turmoil as President Alassane Ouattara promised to deliver 10% growth annually through 2020. It recently suffered its first attack from ISIL, but Ouattara says it will not hit the important tourist trade.