UN Finds Abuses In Cote d’Ivoire Stand-off …
- December 23rd, 2010
- Posted by EUEditor
The United Nations has accused the incumbent government of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) of gross violations of human rights, as its President, Laurent Gbagbo, continues to refuse to accept defeat at recent elections (28./11.10).
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE
International observers endorsed the claim of the opposition candidate, Alassane Ouattara, to have won.
However the army has declared support for Mr Gbagbo who continues to occupy government buildings and has made declarations on television as President..
The United Nations has been coordinating moves to get him to stand down, while individual governments, and in particular President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, have declared this must take place in the coming days.
French citizens have been advised to leave the country.
This week the United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in Cote d’Ivoire to 30.6.10, dismissing demands by Gbagbo that the UN troops – 10000 strong – should move out by their original finishing date, 31.12.10.
The international force is backing the protection of Mr Ouattara,- a former Prime Minister, associated with a rebel movement previously based in the North of the country – now at an hotel complex in the coastal city of Abidjan (picture).
The European Union, the United States and the World Bank have been cooperating in moves to block financial assets of the Cote d’Ivoire government,.
The Nigerian government has been coordinating efforts by an African group of countries to bring the political stand-off to an end, itself offering sanctuary to the outgoing President if he will admit to his defeat.
TORTURE AND KILLINGS
In Geneva, the United Nations Human Rights agency has released an update on information concerning actions by the Gbagbo forces against citizens.
Its says it has confirmed 173 killings, 90 cases of torture and ill treatment, 471 arrests and detentions, and 24 cases of enforced or involuntary disappearance.
FORMER TIMES
Cote d’Ivoire is know also for the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (picture), the largest church in the world.
Built on the lines of St peter’s Basilica in Rome, it was a project of the long-standing President of he country, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and was consecrated by Pope John-Paul II in 1990.
The francophone West African state experienced relative peace, if not prosperity for its citizens, during that time.
Political instability set in after the death of Mr Houphouët-Boigny in 1993.
Reference
United Nations Human Rights: Office of the High Commissioner …, Geneva, Cote d’Ivoire. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/CIIndex.aspx, (23.12.10).
Xinhua, Beijing, “Human Rights violation in Cote d’Ivoire must be stopped: UNâ€, 23.12.10.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-12/23/c_13661988.htm, (23.12.10).
Al Jazeera, Qatar, “Cote d’Ivoire military backs Gbagboâ€, 23.12.10.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/12/20101223113547681648.htm, (23.12.10).
Pictures
Aysps.gsu.edu, wikipedia