Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNDERSTAND CÔTE D'IVOIRE
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Côte d'Ivoire Today
In November 2011 former President Laurent Gbagbo was extradited to The Hague, and
charged with war crimes committed during a 2010-11 post-election conflict, in which
Gbagbo had contested election results and refused to cede power to current leader Alassane
Ouattara. This sparked months of violence that, according to Human Rights Watch, left
3000 people dead and 500,000 homeless. Gbagbo's trial was scheduled to begin in late
2012. Human-rights groups have alleged that atrocities, including the burning of inhabited
homes and the hacking of limbs, were committed by both sides, and have called for allies
of Ouattara to also be tried.
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History
Côte d'Ivoire's troubles began in September 2002, when troops from the north gained con-
trol of much of the country. A truce was short-lived and fighting resumed, this time also
over prime cocoa-growing areas . France sent in troops to maintain the ceasefire boundar-
ies; meanwhile, Liberian tensions from that country's war began to spill over the border,
which escalated the crisis in parts of western Côte d'Ivoire and foreshadowed future events.
In January 2003, Gbagbo and the leaders of the New Forces, a newly formed coalition of
rebel groups, signed accords creating a 'government of national unity', with representatives
of the rebels taking up places in a new cabinet. Curfews were lifted and French troops
cleaned up the lawless western border , but the harmony was short-lived.
In March 2004 a peace deal was signed, and Guillaume Soro, formerly the secretary of
the New Forces rebel coalition, was named prime minister. UN peacekeepers arrived, but
on 4 November Gbagbo broke the ceasefire and bombed rebel strongholds, including Bou-
aké. Two days later, jets struck a French military base, killing nine French peacekeepers. In
retaliation, the French destroyed much of the Ivorian air force's fleet. Government soldiers
clashed with peacekeepers, while most French citizens fled, and dozens of Ivorians died.
Amid reports that Gbagbo was rebuilding his air force, a UN resolution backed his bid to
stay in office until fair elections could be held. In April 2007 French peacekeepers began a
