Côte d’Ivoire: The Human Rights Cost of the Political Impasse   

A Human Rights Watch Report  (Printer Friendly PDF Version)
December 21, 2005

Summary

Background

Rebellion

A Troika of Unfulfilled Peace Agreements

Human Rights Violations by Government Security Forces: 2005 Trends

State Security Forces

Militia Forces

Intimidation, Harassment, and Attacks on Perceived Political Opponents and Supporters of the Rebellion 

Political Opposition Supporters

Journalists

Human Rights Activists

Students

Extortion and Robbery of Civilians

Reports of Extrajudicial Executions

Hate Media Inciting Violence

Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers

Human Rights Violations by the New Forces: 2005 Trends

Patterns of Abuses during 2005 by the New Forces

Reports of Arbitrary Detention

Extortion and Robbery of Civilians

Reports of Summary Executions

The Armed Conflict in Côte d’Ivoire and Applicable International Law

Accountability for Crimes by Pro-Government and Rebel Forces

Domestic Efforts

International Efforts

Commissions of Inquiry

Failure to Impose Sanctions or Pursue Accountability

ICC Investigation

Humanitarian Consequences of the “No War No Peace” Impasse

Lack of Health Care

Education

Water Shortages and Poor Sanitation

Scenarios of Renewed Violence and its Impact on Civilians

Military Coup

Resumption of Armed Conflict

Localized Clashes in Abidjan

Communal Conflict in the West

Widespread Availability of Weapons

Concerns about Inadequate Civilian Protection

Conclusion

Recommendations

To the Government of Côte d’Ivoire

To the New Forces

To the United Nations Security Council

To the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire

To the African Union

To the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court

To the United States, the European Union and other international donors