Transitional Justice in West Africa

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Cote d'Ivoire

The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire expands over a total area of 322,460 sq. km (land: 318,000 sq. km, water: 4,460 sq km). Its population numbers 16,962,491 (July 2003 est.) with a population growth rate of 2.35%

• Other West African populations living in Cote d'Ivoire:
  • Burkina: 2.3 million
  • Mali: 792,260
  • Guinea: 230,390
  • Ghana: 133,220
  • Benin: 107,500
  • Niger: 102,220
  • Nigeria: 101,360
• Cote d'Ivoire is bordered by Ghana in the East, Burkina Faso and Mali in the North, Guinea and Liberia in the West, and the Gulf of Guinea/Atlantic Ocean in the South.
• The founding father of Cote d'Ivoire was President Houphouet Boigny, who was the first president after independence from France on August 7, 1960. He elaborated and relentlessly implemented an open door policy towards citizens from the former West African French Territories to get into Cote d'Ivoire.

Ethnic Diversity

The population of Cote d'Ivoire is ethnically diverse. More than 60 ethnic groups are often cited, although this number may be reduced to 7 clusters of ethnic groups by classifying small units together on the basis of common cultural and historical characteristics. These may be reduced to four major cultural regions:

• East Atlantic (primarily Akan)
• West Atlantic (primarily Kru)
• Voltaic
• Mande

All differentiated in terms of environment, economic activity, language, and overall cultural characteristics. Roughly one-third of the indigenous population lives in the north, including Voltaic peoples in the northeast and Mande in the northwest.

In Cote d'Ivoire, as across Africa, national boundaries reflect the impact of colonial rule as much as present-day political reality, bringing nationalism into conflict with centuries of evolving ethnic identification. Each of Cote d'Ivoire's large cultural groupings has more members outside the nation than within. As a result, many Ivoirians have strong cultural and sociel ties with people in neighboring countries. These centrifugal pressures provide a challenge to political leaders, as they did to the governors of the former French colony.

Politics

Cote d'Ivoire was, until the beginning of civil war on September 19, 2002, the economic heavyweight of West Africa's French speaking countries. The country enjoyed twenty-five years of sustained economic growth from 1960 to 1985. However, from mid-1999 the economy slid backwards as a direct consequence of the refusal by international aid donors to continue financial contributions unless the Ivorian government took necessary measures to stamp out corruption and strictly adhere to donor-mandated reforms.

From the same period, the economic situation deteriorated further due to the policial tension arising from obstacles set up by Henri Konan Bedie's regime to eliminate the main opposition leaders from the October 2000 presidential ballot, including enforcing the nationalist policy of "Ivoirite" - under which high government positions are only open to those whose parents were both Ivorian. On December 24, 1999 a bloodless coup by General Robert Guei removed Bedie and put an end to the supremacy of the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI) which ruled the country since 1948. The reprieve, however, was short term. The political situation did not improve.

A presidential ballot took place as scheduled on October 22, 2000 with a low turnout - 30% of the constituency casting ballots - due to a boycott by the Democratic Rally for the Republic. Amongst those allowed to run was Laurent Gbagbo of the Ivorian Popular Front/Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI), who won the vote. In the days following the presidential elections, political, ethnic, and religious violence resulted in the deaths of more than 150 people and the wounding of hundreds more. In Abidjan, state security forces gunned down political protestors in the streets and rounded up civilians, later executing them (Human Rights Watch - 2000). On October 25, 2000 Robert Guei attempted to hijack the elections by canceling the vote count and proclaiming himself head of state. His move was immediately challenged by supporters of Laurent Gbagbo. They took to the streets, backed by the army. A few hours of street riots were enough to topple Guei's regmine. On October 26, 2000, there were reactive street protests by opposition supporters against the recognition of Laurent Gbagbo as president-elect. Political tension lead to fighting between Gbagbo's mainly southern Christian supporters and the mainly northern Muslim support for the opposition.

Major Issues:

• The continual harassment of and discrimination against northern Muslims and those of foreign origin.
• Controversy surrounding the policy if "Ivoirite" - a strictly nationalistic concept under which only natives whose parents are both Ivorian are eligible for the highest positions in Cote d'Ivoire. This law was damaging to the unity of the country as the majority of northerners descended from migrants from neighboring countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso.
• Refusal by the government to provide ID cards to those not born to Ivorian parents.

Part Two - Transitional Justice in Cote d'Ivoire

Additional Resources

Cote d'Ivoire Timeline (BBC)

Cote d'Ivoire conflict - Q&A (BBC)

Cote d'Ivoire: Can the Ouagadougou Agreement Bring Peace (International Crisis Group)

A War Ends in Ivory Coast but Peace, Order and Unity are Flickering Dreams (NY Times, June 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire: Ensuring Credible Elections (International Crisis Group report, April 2008)

State Department Human Rights Report 2007 - Cote d'Ivoire