Unrest in Côte d'Ivoire

Violence and unrest have broken out in Côte d'Ivoire in the dramatic fallout to a contested presidential election. Also known as Ivory Coast, the West African republic held elections on November 28, with both candidates for office claiming victory afterwards and being sworn into office. Incumbent President Laurent Ghagbo has claimed voting irregularities in the Northern sections of the country, while international election monitors dispute the claim and have recognized Ghagbo's rival and former prime minister Alassane Ouattara as the victor.

Originally scheduled for 2005, Côte d'Ivoire's presidential elections have been delayed multiple years due to civil unrest and the refusal of rebels in the North to disarm following the signing of a 2002 peace treaty.

Since the election, more than 4,000 people have fled post-election violence into neighboring Liberia. The United Nations, African Union, and United States have all urged Ghagbo to recognize Ouattara as the winner of the elections and abdicate peacefully. Côte d'Ivoire's membership in the African Union has been suspended pending the outcome of the elections and the unrest has disrupted the country's lucrative cocoa trade. Nine protestors were killed yesterday by security forces.

Genocide Intervention Network will continue to monitor the situation in Côte d'Ivoire as it evolves. To read more about our Areas of Concern, please click here.