Originally published on the CGS blog on April 5, 2011.
The United Nations and the international community have been actively involved in the ongoing conflict in Côte D’Ivoire during the past decade. The United Nations Operation in Côte D’Ivoire, currently comprised of over 9,000 uniformed personnel, was founded in April 2004. Since then, UN peacekeepers on the ground have tried to protect civilians and opposition leader Alassane Ouattara from Laurent Gbagbo’s militias. There task has been difficult and often impossible because of interference by those fighting under Mr. Gbagbo.
France has played a major role in Côte D’Ivoire, as the country is a former French colony. Most recently, French troops joined UN peacekeepers in taking an active military role fighting against Mr. Gbagbo’s militia and aiding Mr. Ouattara’s opposition forces. Responding to Mr. Gbagbo’s constant attacks on peacekeepers and civilians, the UN and France authorized and executed helicopter gunships attacking essential heavy weapons sites of Mr. Gbagbo’s militia. The move helped opposition forces in their siege of Abidjan and prevented civilian deaths.
The role of the U.S. has been limited in Côte D’Ivoire, but we did impose financial sanctions against Mr. Gbagbo, his wife, and certain members of his inner circle. The European Union also passed economic sanctions against Côte D’Ivoire, and the World Bank has stopped giving hundreds of millions of dollars to the country. The idea behind the sanctions was that if Mr. Gbagbo can’t pay his soldiers and civil servants, he won’t be able to hold onto power.
In addition, ECOWAS cut off Mr. Gbagbo’s access to the Central Bank of West African States; many West African leaders have called for Gbagbo to step down; the UN has threatened accountability for human rights violations; and the ICC has threatened indictments. The international community has been actively engaged in Côte D’Ivoire and will be able to take some of the credit if Laurent Gbagbo is deposed and brought to justice.
This is part 2 of a 3 part piece. Stay tuned for more…
