Background

The current conflict in the Côte d’Ivoire erupted in September 2002, when a mutiny was staged in Abidjan by soldiers that were unhappy with plans to demobilize them. The mutiny turned into a full-scale rebellion, and rebel groups seized control of the Muslim areas in the north and west of the country. The southern part of the country is controlled by predominantly-Christian government forces. The rebellion reflected the unhappiness of northern Muslims at what they saw as discrimination by the government of President Laurent Gbagbo. Serious human rights abuses were committed by the rebel groups, including summary executions, torture and rape.

In 2003 the Linas-Marcoussis peace accords were signed in France, and a power sharing government was agreed on which would include nine rebel members. However, the rebel groups, called the Forces Nouvelles, pulled out of the agreement in September 2003 accusing the Côte d’Ivoire’s president, Gbagbo, of failing to honor the peace agreement.  They rejoined the government in December 2003 but were ousted again in March 2004.

The United Nations Mission in the Côte d’Ivoire (MINUCI) was established in May 2003.  It was a small political mission designed to help the parties implement the Linas-Marcoussis peace agreement. It did not have a peacekeeping component. In April 2004, at the request of the government, the Security Council replaced MINUCI with the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

UNOCI is a fully-fledged peacekeeping operation, with more than 6,000 troops in Côte d’Ivoire.  There are also 4,000 troops from France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the country. The French and ECOWAS troops provide support to the UNOCI peacekeepers. Together, they patrol an area between the government forces in the south and the rebel forces in the north called the "confidence zone."

Today

The 2003 ceasefire agreement between Government and rebel forces was broken on November 4, 2004, when the Government launched air raids against rebel positions in northern Cote d’Ivoire. The bombings were the first major outbreak of hostilities since the May 2003 ceasefire. The fighting escalated on November 6, when Government planes bombed a French military base in Bouaké killing nine French peacekeepers and an American civilian. The French immediately responded by destroying the Ivorian air force, which led to several days of anti-French rioting by pro-Government mobs. The rioting is now over, but it appears that a majority of the European population will leave the country.  Click here to learn more about the recent riots in the Ivory Coast.

All sides are concerned that the recent air raids against rebel positions signal that the Government will launch a new ground offensive against the rebels.  Indeed, twice in recent days, UN and French peacekeepers have stopped Government forces attempting to cross the UN-patrolled confidence zone into the rebel-held north.  The possibility of renewed fighting is complicated by the Government's anti-French rhetoric.  French forces may have difficulty acting as peacekeepers if the Government continues to accuse France of favoring the rebels.

South African President Thabo Mbeki is trying to restart negotiations between the Government and rebels, but has made little progress. Negotiations have largely been stalled since the May 2003 ceasefire, and what little trust remains has been further damaged by the recent violence. The rebels have declared that they will not participate in any negotiations with the Ivorian President, Luarent Gbagbo.

On November 15, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose an arms embargo on Cote d’Ivoire. In addition, the Security Council decided to impose travel bans and asset freezes on individuals who oppose the peace process or who commit violations of international law or human rights.  The Security Council will continue to monitor the situation and may impose further sanctions if the Government does not cooperate in implementing the peace accords.

Even before the most recent fighting, most of the inhabitants of the rebel-controlled areas lacked basic health care, sanitation, water, and other services. Thousands of civilians, who were displaced by the fighting in 2002, are unable to return to their homes and are currently living in squalid displacement camps. In a recent report to the Security Council, UN Secretary General warned that the economic situation in Côte d’Ivoire is deteriorating and that unemployment and poverty are rising. He warned of dire consequences for the country if the government and the rebels cannot work together to implement the peace agreement.

In addition, 1.5 million people in rebel held areas have been without power since the latest government attacks started on November 4. Clean water is scarce and the Red Cross has warned that the risk of outbreaks of disease has increased. The Red Cross estimates that about 1000 people have been injured and 64 people died during the violence. Moreover, 10,000 Ivorians have fled into Liberia and there is a concern that more people will flee the country in the coming weeks. West African leaders have publicly worried that instability in Cote d’Ivoire could spill over into neighboring countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone.

At this time, the greatest challenge confronting Côte d’Ivoire is the failure to implement the 2003 peace agreement and the resulting deterioration of the economic and social conditions in the country.  The most recent outbreak of violence merely reinforces a generally negative trend.  The most important short term goal should be getting the Government and the rebel forces to re-establish the ceasefire and begin the negotiations necessary to implement the Linas-Marcoussis peace accords.

It is important that the international community remain involved in Côte d’Ivoire.  The parties probably will not negotiate unless pressured to by the international community.  It is particularly important that the African Union, ECOWAS, and the UN Secretary General remain actively involved and continue to apply pressure to the parties.  If international pressure  is perceived to come primarily from France, the Government may reject the demand to negotiate.  The African Union, the Secretary-General and ECOWAS must make it clear that only a peaceful political solution will be acceptable.

Updated November 16, 2004

UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI)

UN Mission in the Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI) - MINUCI was integrated into UNOCI in April 2004.