Côte d'Ivoire

Ivory Coast's Gbagbo has 'last chance' to exit power: Ouattara (15.03.2011)

Ivory Coast's internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara warned rival Laurent Gbagbo Tuesday that he had a "last chance" to peacefully step down, as fresh violence rocked Abidjan.

Ivory Coast rebels claim to expand their advance (06.03.2011)

Rebels opposed to the strongman Laurent Gbagbo seized a town near the Liberian border on Sunday … in a further sign of Ivory Coast’s possible slide toward civil war.

Côte d’Ivoire: is war the only option?- new ICG report (04.03.2011)

Côte d’Ivoire is on the verge of a new civil war between the army loyal to the defiant Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to acknowledge he lost the November 2010 presidential election, and the “Forces nouvelles” (FN), the ex-insurgency now supporting the winner, Alassane Ouattara.

Ivory Coast fighting spreads to southern Abidjan (02.03.2011)

Explosions rocked the southern Abidjan suburb of Koumassi overnight and on Wednesday, as fighting between insurgents seeking to oust Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo and security forces spread to new areas of the main city.

Côte d’Ivoire: UN mission deplores excessive use of force against demonstrators (22.02.2011)

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire today deplored the excessive use of force against demonstrators in the city of Abidjan and surrounding areas over the past couple of days, saying the violence had left dozens of people dead or wounded.

Security Council extends deployment of extra troops in Côte d’Ivoire (16.02.2011)

The Security Council today decided to extend up to three months the temporary redeployment of United Nations peacekeeping units from Liberia to Côte d’Ivoire, which has been bedevilled by a political deadlock arising from presidential elections late last year.

Côte d’Ivoire – revised IRIN briefings (15.02.2011)

… IRIN’s series of revised briefings takes a look at the handling of the crisis by the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, western governments and the European Union (EU), while also looking at the humanitarian consequences of the breakdown.

Ivory Coast's Gbagbo seeks to sue ECOWAS over polls (14.02.2011)

Lawyers for Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo have asked a court in Nigeria to annul declarations by regional body ECOWAS that his rival Alassane Ouattara won a presidential election last November.

UN troops prevent possible resumption of civil war, says envoy (14.02.2011)

United Nations peacekeepers in Côte d’Ivoire, where former president Laurent Gbagbo refuses to step down despite his electoral defeat, are crucial to preventing a possible resumption of civil war, and they will respond with force if attacked, the top UN envoy in the country said today.

AU mediators arrive in Ivory Coast (06.02.2011)

Experts sent by an African Union panel tasked with mediating peace in Ivory Coast arrived here Sunday for discussions with the country's two rival presidents.

Countries ready to reinforce UN peacekeepers in Côte d’Ivoire amid tense impasse (04.02.2011)

Several countries are ready to provide reinforcements for the 9,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire, where the former president’s refusal to step down despite his electoral defeat has led to violence and the displacement of tens of thousands of people, a top UN official...

No question of recognising Gbagbo, ECOWAS says (30.01.2011)

Recognising Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo as president is out of the question for African leaders trying to resolve the country's post-election crisis, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS said on Sunday. Its statement was the strongest sign yet that Gbagbo had failed to convert African unease over...

Côte d'Ivoire: UN and African blocs must remain united to ensure respect of poll results – Ban (29.01.2011)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today outlined the principles he said should guide efforts to resolve the political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, including the demand that outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo step down to allow the formation of a national unity government by president-elect, Alassane...

African Union in new move to end Ivory Coast crisis (28.01.2011)

The African Union said on Friday it would form a panel of heads of state to solve the leadership crisis in Ivory Coast which would come up with a legally binding settlement within one month.

ECOWAS sends team to seek US/UN support for use of force against Gbagbo (25.01.2011)

ECOWAS is dispatching a powerful delegation to the United States and the United Nations to garner their support for a possible use of force to oust incumbent Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, ECOWAS sources told PANA here Tuesday.

Local UN staff easy targets in the crisis (24.01.2011)

While the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) faces a climate of orchestrated and growing hostility, local UN employees, even those working with agencies completely separate from UNOCI, are living in fear.

UN rejects Gbagbo’s call to search its vehicles as violation of accord (21.01.2011)

The United Nations today rebuffed efforts by forces loyal to Côte d’Ivoire’s former president, who refuses to step down despite his electoral defeat, to stop and search UN vehicles.

Ivory Coast talks fail, Gbagbo rejects mediator (19.01.2011)

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said African efforts to mediate Ivory Coast's disputed poll had failed on Wednesday, and Laurent Gbagbo rejected him as mediator after Odinga warned he faced sanctions or force.

UN reinforces peacekeepers as officials warn of risks of genocide (19.01.2011)

The United Nations today reinforced its nearly 9,000-strong peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire with extra peacekeepers and helicopters, as senior officials called for urgent action to prevent growing post-electoral violence from degenerating into genocide.

Gbagbo loyalists shoot at UN patrol in mounting aggression (18.01.2011)

Forces loyal to the former president of Côte d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo – who refuses to step down despite his electoral defeat – have opened fire towards United Nations peacekeepers in a new “act of aggression,” according to the UN envoy on the ground there.

Rival urges force to oust Ivory Coast's Gbagbo (14.01.2011)

Ivory Coast's internationally recognised leader Alassane Ouattara called Friday for force to oust his strongman rival, two days before Africa's mediator in the spiralling crisis returns to Abidjan.

ECOWAS searching for a regional solution – briefing (11.01.2011)

IRIN has produced a series of briefings exploring the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire triggered by contested elections in November 2010. … The series takes a look at the UN’s position, issues of human rights, as well as the stances of the African Union, ECOWAS, western governments and the EU and World Bank.

UN plans more peacekeepers (05.01.2011)

UN peacekeepers in Ivory Coast are sending a request to the Security Council for 1,000 to 2,000 more troops amid the continuing political crisis. UN peacekeeping chief in Ivory Coast Alain Le Roy said he hoped the troops would be available in a few weeks.

African powers insist Gbagbo stand down despite talks offer (04.01.2011)

A day after intensive talks with both Gbagbo and Ouattara, a group of African leaders said the veteran incumbent had promised that the dispute would be settled peacefully. … ECOWAS stressed that military intervention in Ivory Coast was still an option if talks failed to end the impasse, while the...

Gbagbo's “street general” opts for talks to solve crisis (04.01.2011)

Laurent Gbagbo’s controversial Youth Minister Charles Blé Goudé said dialogue was the only solution to the Ivorian crisis. But rival president Alassane Ouattara has rejected dialogue offers.

Africa mediation fails to end stalemate (04.01.2011)

Ivory Coast's political crisis remains deadlocked despite a mediation attempt by African leaders, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria has said.

Ivory Coast's Ouattara rejects Gbagbo offer (22.12.2010)

Ivory Coast's presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara rejected on Wednesday the incumbent leader's offer of an international investigation into a disputed election as a political "game".

UN officials demand end to provocation and rights violations (21.12.2010)

The United Nations peacekeeping chief today urged Côte d’Ivoire’s outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to concede defeat after the recent elections, and his supporters to refrain from acts of provocation against peacekeepers and to stop human rights violations.

Security Council extends UN mission in Côte d’Ivoire (20.12.2010)

Rebuffing a demand by Côte d'Ivoire’s president that the United Nations mission leave after it certified his electoral defeat, the Security Council today renewed the nearly 9,000-strong force for another six months, foreshadowed a possible increase and threatened sanctions against those imperilling...

France, UN reject Gbagbo demand to quit Ivory Coast (19.12.2010)

France joined the United Nations on Sunday in rejecting a demand by Laurent Gbagbo to quit Ivory Coast and stepped up calls for him to stand down as president after a disputed poll or face sanctions.

Mass street protests "the only solution now" (15.12.2010)

While international pressure and isolation have yet to force Laurent Gbagbo’s departure, his rival Alassane Ouattara is now looking to end Côte d‘Ivoire's political impasse by taking the battle for control to the streets.

Ivorian forces open fire on protesters, one killed (15.12.2010)

Ivorian security forces fired live rounds and tear gas on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of protesters in the capital Yamoussoukro demanding that Laurent Gbagbo leave office, killing one and wounding others, witnesses said.

EU launches Ivorian sanctions as tensions grow (13.12.2010)

The European Union agreed to impose sanctions on Ivory Coast incumbent Laurent Gbagbo on Monday, and his army deployed near his rival's headquarters in a standoff later defused by the U.N. envoy.

UN sets up committee on possible sanctions in elections dispute (13.12.2010)

The United Nations moved today towards imposing sanctions on anybody obstructing the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire, where outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo refuses to step down despite international recognition of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara as the divided country’s new head.

Talks not sanctions best for Ivory Coast - African Union (12.12.2010)

The African Union does not favour sanctions for now over a disputed presidential election in Ivory coast and will instead stick to quiet diplomacy, the Union's top security official said on Sunday.

Security Council endorses opposition leader’s victory in Ivorian polls (08.12.2010)

The Security Council today endorsed opposition leader Alassane Ouattara’s victory in Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential elections despite outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo’s claim to have won, and warned of ‘targeted measures’ against anybody threatening the peace process in the divided country.

UN moving nonessential staff out of Ivory Coast (06.12.2010)

The United Nations is temporarily moving non-essential staff from its mission in Ivory Coast out of the country, amid a political crisis there after disputed elections, U.N. officials said on Monday.

Ivory Coast election result deadline is missed (02.12.2010)

Tension is high in Ivory Coast after a deadline was missed to publish the results of Sunday's election run-off. The head of the electoral commission, Youssouf Bakoyoko, said it was still working to reach a consensus on the results, which have been disputed. Supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo,...

EU slams Ivorian poll commission for 'obstruction' (24.11.2010)

A European Union mission sent to observe Ivory Coast's presidential poll has accused the nation's electoral commission of "unacceptable obstruction," a complaint that may raise questions over the poll's transparency.

Security Council authorizes extra UN troops for Ivorian run-off poll (24.11.2010)

The Security Council today authorized the sending of extra United Nations peacekeepers to Côte d'Ivoire ahead of the presidential run-off election scheduled for Sunday and urged everyone in the West African nation to ensure a peaceful poll.

UN envoy certifies results of first round of presidential poll (12.11.2010)

The United Nations envoy to Côte d’Ivoire today certified the results of the first round of the presidential election in the West African country, paving the way for the run-off on 28 November between the two candidates who garnered the highest number of votes.

Ivory Coast postpones presidential run-off (09.11.2010)

Ivory Coast will hold the decisive second round of its long-delayed presidential election on Nov. 28, a week later than previously announced, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro announced on Tuesday.

Ivorian leader heads to poll run-off as frontrunner (04.11.2010)

Ivory Coast's President Laurent Gbagbo will face a vote run-off this month against his rival, Alassane Ouattara, according to first-round results released on Thursday that gave Gbagbo a narrow lead.

Impending presidential poll ‘historic’ for Côte d’Ivoire – UN envoy (25.10.2010)

With the people of Côte d’Ivoire heading to polls this weekend for the much-delayed presidential election, 31 October will be a “historic” day for the West African nation, a senior United Nations official said today.

UN envoy reports peaceful start to election campaign (19.10.2010)

The campaign for Côte d’Ivoire’s much-delayed presidential elections has started calmly despite passions inherent in such a poll, which is intended to end the division of the West African country caused by civil war in 2002, the top United Nations official there reported.

New report of the Secretary-General on UNOCI (18.10.2010)

UN sanctions extended for another six months (15.10.2010)

Declaring the situation in Côte d’Ivoire a continuing threat to international peace, the Security Council today extended until the end of next April the weapons, financial and travel sanctions on a country split between a Government-controlled south and rebel-held north by civil war in 2002.

UN envoy stresses role of electoral observers in presidential poll (07.10.2010)

The head of the United Nations mission in Côte d’Ivoire today urged the international community to deploy enough election observers to monitor the West African country’s presidential election on 31 October to enhance the credibility of the poll results.

Security Council to send more UN troops to Côte d’Ivoire ahead of upcoming polls (28.09.2010)

The Security Council today urged parties in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the holding of the country’s long-delayed presidential polls next month, and agreed to deploy up to 500 additional United Nations troops to assist with security during the election period.

Ivory Coast starts paying former rebels for peace (22.09.2010)

Ivory Coast began paying former rebel soldiers on Wednesday who disarmed ahead of elections set for next month, bringing the West African nation a step closer to ending years of crisis.