The UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire

Mission Mandate

In 2004, Security Council Resolution 1528 authorized the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to support implementation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement. This agreement was signed by the Ivorian government forces, who control the south of the country, and the New Forces (former rebels), who control the north. In January 2010, the Security Council extended the mandate through May in order to complete the election process by adopting Resolution 1924.

Read this article by Peter Yeo, Executive Director of the Better World Campaign, on how the UN is keeping the peace in Ivory Coast.

The Mission's mandate includes:

•  Monitoring the ceasefire and movement of armed groups; 
•  Facilitating free and transparent elections; 
•  Disarming, demobilizing, reintegrating, repatriating, and resettling former combatants; 
•  Protecting government ministers and UN personnel; and 
•  Facilitating access to humanitarian assistance.

On September 28, 2010, the Security Council (SC) authorized an additional 500 troops to reinforce UNOCI’s efforts to support the election process. Due to the ongoing crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, the SC authorized an additional 2,000 troops in January 2011. The United Nations Mission in Liberia contributed an additional 500 troops to UNOCI's mission. 

In addition, on March 20, 2011, the UN adopted Resolution 1975 which calls for an immediate cease-fire, for presidential power to be ceded to elected leader Alasanne Ouattara, urges UN workers to use all necessary means to protect civilians and places further sanctions on former president Laurent Gbabgo, his wife, and key political leaders.

Background

Cote d'Ivoire, former French coloney, had one of the most developed economies in West Africa until late 1999, when a coup and subsequent failed elections plunged the nation into civil war. The beginning of 2003 saw the first attempt at reunification when the country’s opposing political factions signed the French-brokered Linas-Marcoussis Accord (LMA), agreeing to a power-sharing government which included the rebel group New Forces. The parties also agreed to work together on modifying national identity, citizenship, and land tenure laws that are considered among the root causes of the conflict. On July 4, 2003, the government and New Forces signed an "End of the War" declaration that recognized President Gbagbo's authority and vowed to work for the implementation of the LMA and a program of demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration (DDR). Read more || Hide text

 How This Affects American Interests 

• Assist refugees and displaced persons. Currently, there are 247,000 internally displaced Ivoirians are, a significant improvement since the peak of the 2011 violence, that saw nearly 1 million Ivoirians displaced. The largest population of Ivorian refugees can be found in Liberia, Ghana and Togo.  To assist these populations UNHCR signed a Tripartite Agreement with the Governments of Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, establishing the legal framework and the voluntary repatriation of Ivorian refugees from Liberia. A similar agreement was signed with the Government of Ghana.  Since September  2011, UNHCR  facilitated the distribution of 2,079 metric tons of World Food Program provided assorted food and commodities to Ivorian refugees.. To help curb the remaining flow of refugees and support IDPs, the UN Peace Building Fund granted $3 million to the Government of Côte d'Ivoire to support the restoration of peace and security. However, as the overall security situation and progress toward reconciliation improves, there is increasing concern regarding the reintegration of the 80,000 Ivoirians returning from neighboring countries.  
  
  
• Promotes Human Rights. Laurent Gbagbo is currently standing trial  at the Hague, having been charged with four counts of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committed during the violence in  2010 election presidential election. In February 2012 the ICC ruled that it would extend its investigation of former President Gbagbo  for crimes dating back to 2002, disavowing  the March 2007 Ouagadougou peace accord in which Ivorian politicians declared general amnesty for all war crimes committed since September 2000. Human rights abuses during Gbagbo presidency, based on an investigation conducted by the UN Human Rights Council, are thought to have led to the deaths of over 3,000 individuals. UN peacekeepers continue to monitor and investigate human rights violations across the country and have discovered mass graves.
  
  
• Supports the electoral process. In February 2012 UNOCI officials announced the partial certification of the December  2011 legislative election results. These elections marked the country’s second parliamentary election in 11 years since the civil war concluded and remained peaceful as candidates vied for 255 open seats. UNOCI bolstered the electoral process by providing logistical support on Election Day, registering over 5.7 million voters, distributing voter identification cards, and deploying 7,000 troops to provide security. Bert Koenders, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cote d’ Ivoire  a stated “that all the that all the conditions necessary for the holding of open, free, fair, just and transparent elections were met” in 193 of the 204 parliamentary constituencies where polls were held. In the remaining 11 constituencies the results were nullified due to voter irregularities and a second round of elections was held on February 26, 2012. Mr.Koenders urged candidates to cooperate with the Independent Electoral Council for the elections by respecting human rights and behaving responsibly.
  
  
• Disarms former combatants. The UN is working to restore order in Cote d’Ivoire. A UN voluntary disarmament operation began in Abidjan in February 2012 with the help of national authorities. The UNOCI has collected some 1,000 weapons thus far. Similar operations have been established in Abobo in collaboration with the Government, Ivorian police, and the National Commission to Fight Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. This program in addition to disarming combatants provides training and support for income generating activities. 
  
  

Ongoing Challenges

• Human Rights Violations. During the 2010 violence in Cote d’ Ivoire, reports emerged that Ouattara’s supporters committed human rights abuses against opposition supporters.  As a result, the UN Human Rights Council dispatched a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the human rights abuses and report back to with its findings. Recent reports implicated high ranking Outtara military officials, including Chérif Ousmane and Ousmane Coulibaly, as among those responsible for some 149 deaths.  The Ouattara government continues to promise to hold credible investigations into the events and it will prosecute persons implicated in crimes regardless of their allegiance. However, given Ouattara’s Republican Party maintains a majority in parliament after the December 11 elections, Ivorians are concerned that Outtara’s supporters accused of perpetrating mass violence will not be brought to justice.



• Increase Food and Cocoa Prices. Due to instability in Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest supplier of cocoa, international cocoa prices have risen to 34 year highs. This, combined with a tripling in local food prices has had a strongly negative effect on Ivorians ability to feed themselves. The price of cassava has doubled while the price of rice rose 15-30 percent, both staple crops for Ivoirians.
  
  

• Prevalence of Sexual Violence. Sexual violence remains pervasive throughout the country. The issue is particularly acute in the far west of Côte d'Ivoire, where armed men sexually assault women and girls in their homes, as they tend to their fields, and when they walk to or from the market. Victims are typically attacked during a robbery and attacks are especially common during the cocoa harvest and on market days. Victims' access to health and legal services remains extremely limited. Attempts to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence are hampered by lack of political will among police and court officials, and by severe deficiencies in the justice system.
  
  

Updated: February 2012