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Cease Fire – 2007

The Ouagadougou Political Agreement had two specific provisions related to the ceasefire: a confidence zone and a code of conduct. Under the confidence zone provision, parties agreed to request the impartial forces of Licorne and the United Nations Operation in C™te d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to dismantle the zone of confidence, establish an imaginary green line going from east to west along the median line of the zone of confidence, and deploy joint units comprised of equal numbers of FAFN and Defence and Security Forces (FDS) members. In the code of conduct, parties agreed to refrain from any belligerent and offensive attitude and engage in public awareness campaigns in support of the peace process.

Meaningful progress was made in terms of implementing provisions related to the ceasefire. Parties met the timeline on dismantling the confidence zone, which was established by an agreement on 31 July 2005. The chief of staff of FAFN and FDS and force commanders of UNOCI and Licorne signed an accord on 11 April 2007, which provided the legal basis for the dismantling of the zone of confidence.¹ A confidence zone, which divided Ivory Coast between the government-held and the rebel-held areas, finally started to be dismantled on 16 April 2007. The zone of confidence ceased to exist beginning 15 September 2007.² Out of 17 checkpoints established by UNOIC, eight checkpoints were dismantled by 30 November 2007.³ The UNOCI and Licorne assisted in drawing an imaginary green line for the deployment of joint units. Joint units comprising equal number of FAFN and FDS were deployed at Bangolo and Zeale areas by 30 April 2007.⁴

State media was used to unite the divided country and promote reconciliation through its revamped programs.⁵ As a way to engage in a public awareness campaign in support of the peace process, rebels met with supporters of the President for the first time on 21 April 2007.⁶

A small group of men hiding near the runway attacked Prime Minister Guillaume Soro’s airplane. He survived the attack. At least four people were killed and more than 10 were wounded.⁷ This, however, did not derail the partiesÕ commitment to the ceasefire. President Gbagbo condemned the attack and stressed the importance of the peace process in his nationally televised address.⁸ On 27 December, an attack on Forces Nouvelles personnel took place in Bouke. Sergeant Ibrahim Coulibaly, a former member of Forces Nouvelles, was allegedly involved in the attack. Eighteen arrests were made in the Bouake area in connection with the attack, which resulted in several deaths.⁹ This, however, did not derail the process.

1. “Thirteenth progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in C™te dÕIvoire,” United Nations Security Council (S/2007/275), May 14, 2007.
2. “UN peacekeepers dismantle Ivory Coast buffer zone,” Agence France Presse, September 17, 2007.
3. “UN peacekeepers continue redeploying in Ivory Coast,” Agence France Presse, December 8, 2007.
4. “Thirteenth progress report of the Secretary-General.”
5. “Ivory Coast broadcaster vows objective coverage,” Agence France Presse, April 2, 2007.
6. “A News: Ivory Coast Rebels, ‘PatriotsÕÕ meet as Symbol of Unity,” US Fed News, April 21, 2007.
7. “Ivory Coast PM escapes rocket attack,” Agence France Presse, June 29, 2007.
8. “Fourteenth progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in C™te dÕIvoire,” United Nations Security Council (S/2007/593), October 1, 2007.
9. “Sixteenth progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in C™te dÕIvoire,” United Nations Security Council (S/2008/250), April 15, 2008.