Cote d’Ivoire

This report describes human rights abuses against civilians by state security forces, militia forces and by the New Forces during the period of November 2005 to March 2006, and serves to illustrate the human cost of the failure to address impunity and lawlessness in Cote d'Ivoire.

President Laurent Gbagbo has strongly criticised the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast. He says it is biased in favour of rebels who have been in control of the north since 2002. Some 10,000 French and United Nations peacekeepers monitor a buffer zone between the rebels in the north and the government-held south.

Ivory Coast's president and rebel leader have agreed a new disarmament deadline aimed at breaking the deadlocked peace process. Pro-government militias, who have recently missed two deadlines, must hand in their arms by the end of July. The leaders' announcement came after talks with UN head Kofi Annan and other African heads of state.

Speaking after a meeting with Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said an October deadline set for the war-divided country to hold elections may have to be allowed to slip until the end of the year - but no later.

Crucial elections in Ivory Coast are unlikely to happen soon, but players in the protracted negotiations are drawing inspiration from the fighting spirit of the Elephants, the national soccer team. Critical prerequisites for elections have not taken place. Disarmament of rebels and militias has not started, and just over 3000 citizens have been registered. Only once this is completed can a voters roll be drawn up.

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