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Human Rights Abuses Continue to Be Reported in Côte d'Ivoire
UN Mission
Côte d'Ivoire
November 23, 2004
Human rights abuses in Côte d'Ivoire are giving rise to concern, with cases
of arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detention and forced disappearances
continuing to be reported nationwide after the resurgence of violence in the
West African country earlier this month, the United Nations mission said
today.
The Human Rights Office in Bouaké in the rebel-held north reported yesterday
increasing cases of forced disappearances, arrests and detention of people
accused of supporting President Laurent Gbagbo, the UN Operation in Côte
d'Ivoire added in its second such warning on abuses in five days.
In this connection, the rebel "Forces Nouvelles" has proposed the nomination
of a liaison officer with the mandate to interact on human rights issues
with the Bouaké Human Rights Office, the mission added.
Last Friday it said summary executions, torture, rape, disappearances,
arbitrary arrests and destruction of property continued to be reported
throughout Côte d'Ivoire, both in Government- and rebel-controlled zones and
in the UN-patrolled Zone of Confidence (ZOC) separating the combatants.
The latest crisis began 4 November when Government forces bombed rebel
positions in the ZOC. Two days later Government forces bombed French
peacekeepers there, killing nine, and French troops destroyed the
Government's air force in retaliation, leading to widespread rioting,
looting and harassment of foreigners.
More than 10,000 Ivorians, mostly women and children, fled into neighboring
Liberia, itself struggling to recover after 14 years of vicious civil war,
and thousands of foreigners were air-lifted out of Abidjan, the country's
largest city.
Also
see on Global Action on Aging's Website:
History of Côte d'Ivoire:
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/africa/ivoire2.htm
Geographical Map of Côte d'Ivoire:
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/africa/ivoiremap.pdf
The
United Nations mission in Côte d'Ivoire:
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/africa/ivoire1.htm
Article
on the French role in Côte d'Ivoire:
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/africa/ivoire3.htm
The
resolution 1572 of the UN:
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/africa/1572.pdf
Article
in French on the "ivoirité" principle:
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/africa/ivoire4.htm
Geological
Map of Côte d'Ivoire:
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/africa/ressources.bmp
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