Update: Disputed Ivory Coast Election Prompts Fears of Civil War

By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo protest at a youth rally (Photo Courtesy of Wall Street Journal).
Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo protest at a youth rally (Photo Courtesy of Wall Street Journal).

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – The United States and European Union countries have imposed a travel ban on Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo, members of his family and key members of his government after Mr. Gbagbo failed to step down after being defeated in last month’s disputed presidential election.

The United States, United Nations, African Union, and European Union have all recognized Mr. Gbagbo’s challenger, Alassane Ouattara, as the winner of the country’s November 28 run-off presidential election. Mr. Gbagbo’s refusal to concede has plunged the country into violence and prompted fears of civil war.

Violence broke out on Thursday when supporters of Mr. Ouattara clashed with security forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo.

On Saturday, Mr. Gbagbo declared that U.N. peacekeepers must leave Ivory Coast because the U.N. had certified his opponent as the winner. A Gbagbo spokeswoman said on state television that nine thousand U.N. peacekeepers and another nine hundred French troops supporting them were to leave immediately. Despite this order to leave, the U.N. has vowed to continue its mission.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on Sunday that over fifty people had been killed in the previous three days and that armed men had abducted hundreds from their homes in nighttime raids.

“The deteriorating security conditions in the country and the interference with freedom of movement of UN personnel have made it difficult to investigate the large number of human rights violations reported,” Pillay said on Sunday, from Geneva.

A resolution adopted unanimously on Monday by the U.N. Security Council condemned Mr. Gbagbo for clinging to power. The resolution urges all Ivorian parties “to respect the will of the people and the outcome of the election.” The Council also voted unanimously to extend the deployment of U.N. troops for another six months as violence continues in Ivory Coast.

The Security Council called on all parties to recognize Mr. Ouattara as Ivory Coast’s president.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy has warned that Mr. Gbagbo could face prosecution in the International Criminal Court and echoed the calls of the international community for Mr. Gbagbo to immediately stand down.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – UN warns of Cote d’Ivoire abuses – 20 December 2010

AP – UN condemns intimidation of staff in Ivory Coast – 20 December 2010

Christian Science Monitor – Death squads reemerge in Ivory Coast as president contests election results – 20 December 2010

Reuters Africa – EU agrees travel ban on Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo – 20 December 2010

Wall Street Journal – U.S. Sanctions Ivory Coast Leader – 20 December 2010

Author: Impunity Watch Archive