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Introduction

The events associated with a demonstration in the Ivorian commercial capital of Abidjan by opposition groups planned for March 25, 2004, were accompanied by a deadly crackdown by government backed forces, including the security forces, pro-government militias, and FPI party militants. During a two week mission in May 2004, Human Rights Watch interviewed scores of victims, witnesses, government officials, members of the security forces, hospital workers, and diplomats about what took place from March 24-26, 2004.

The March 25 demonstration, which was planned to protest the lack of progress in implementing the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, never actually transpired as envisioned by the organizers. The plan was for demonstrators to march from outlying areas of Abidjan and congregate in the city center. While a “red zone” (within which unauthorized people would be treated as “enemy combatants”) was declared by the government within a 5 kilometer radius of the Place de la Republique, none of the demonstrators were able to come close to reaching that area.  

The violence from March 25-27, 2004 occurred far from the city center, on the periphery of Abidjan particularly in the suburbs of Abobo, Anyama, and Adjame where thousands of demonstrators had gathered in anticipation of marching to the city center. Members of the Ivorian security forces, including pro-government militias, proactively positioned themselves in these areas on the night before the demonstration and established barricades to prevent demonstrators from marching. From their positions, the security forces attacked the demonstrators as they were in the process of coming together or after having gathered into groups of varying sizes.

Local human rights groups and representatives of a victims’ association interviewed by Human Rights Watch suggest that between March 24-26, 2004 at least 105 civilians were killed, 290 were wounded, and some 20 individuals  “disappeared” after being taken into custody by members of the Ivorian security forces and pro-government militias.¹ Opposition marchers, some of whom, according to witnesses, were armed with pistols and rifles killed at least two police officers and one pro-government militiaman.² Other marchers, some armed with clubs, rocks, bricks, and machetes, attacked the inhabitants of homes of security force personnel and those of ethnic groups supporting the ruling party.

Accounts given by victims and witnesses to Human Rights Watch suggest that on many occasions Ivorian security forces, pro-government militias, and FPI militants responded aggressively to the banned demonstration by using unnecessary and deadly means that were disproportionate to the supposed threat the march posed. Instead of dispersing the demonstrators with non-lethal means as they assembled, the security forces shot at and detained them in their communities as they prepared to gather, fired upon them as they attempted to flee to safety, executed many demonstrators after being detained, and, in several cases, stopped wounded civilians and demonstrators from seeking medical attention. In many instances these pro-government forces harassed, detained, and murdered civilians seemingly and exclusively on the basis of their nationality, ethnicity, and/or religion.³ The numerous instances of what appeared to be the wanton disregard for human life was no doubt fueled by an institutionalized climate of impunity within the security forces

According to several members of the security forces and diplomats interviewed by Human Rights Watch, there may have, in some instances, been other factors which contributed to the excessive use of force by the security forces. These include inadequacies within police units, some of which were understaffed and subsequently panicked when faced with large concentrations of demonstrators; and the presence of some armed demonstrators who might have fired at members of the security forces.