The Linas-Marcoussis agreement called for additional support from ECOWAS peacekeepers to maintain the ceasefire and oversee the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program.
By the end of January, ECOWAS had begun deploying 1,300 peacekeepers to maintain the ceasefire. In March, ECOWAS’ Defense and Security Commission recommended increasing the number of troops to over 3,400. [1] However, by November, only 1,383 ECOWAS peacekeepers had been deployed, and the mission faced financial and logistical problems.[2]
[1] “Report of the Secretary-General on Cote d’Ivoire.” United Nations (S/2003/374), March 26, 2003.
[2] “Second report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2003/1069), November 4, 2003.
No changes observed this year.
No changes observed this year.
The Linas-Marcoussis Agreement required the transitional powersharing government to release all military prisoners who qualified for amnesty under the terms of the Agreement.
In August, the government released all remaining prisoners still held on suspicion of conspiring in coup attempts in 2001 and 2000.[1]
[1] “Country reports on human rights practices,” U.S. State Department, February 25, 2004.
The parties signed the Pretoria Agreement in April, agreeing to restructure the governance of Ivorian Radio and Television.
Laws regulating the media and establishing its financial independence were not passed this year. A UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire report noted that “most Ivorian media…remain under the direct control of political parties.”[1]
[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/443), June 2, 2004.
Under the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, the transitional powersharing government was required to reform media regulation in order to ensure the neutrality of state media, eliminate xenophobia in the media, and establish the financial independence of the press. The Agreement stipulated that this was to be completed within a year. In addition, the government was required to restore the free broadcast of international radio and television.
BBC, Radio France Internationale, and Radio Nostalgie broadcasts all resumed by the end of February.[1] The UN Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (MINUCI) reported that the government authorized a media watchdog to sanction media hate speech. MINUCI’s report recommended a new press law to eliminate the financial dependence of much of the media on political parties. However, it does not appear the law was passed in 2003.
[1] “Report of the Secretary-General on Cote d’Ivoire.” United Nations (S/2003/374), March 26, 2003.
In July, President Gbagbo used constitutional powers to bypass the National Assembly and promulgate legislation creating the National Commission on Human Rights. The Forces nouvelles had requested the law be passed by the National Assembly, but South African President Thabo Mbeki, mediating on behalf of the African Union, advised Gbagbo to promulgate the law himself.[1]
[1] “Ivory Coast leader reports passing laws agreed to in peace pact,” The New York Times, July 16, 2005.
The National Assembly had begun debating a draft law to establish the National Commission on Human Rights by June.[1] However, the law was not passed this year.
[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/443), June 2, 2004.
The Linas-Marcoussis Agreement required the transitional powersharing government to establish a National Human Rights Commission with delegates to be nominated by the signatories.
Legislation establishing the National Human Rights Commission was introduced to the National Assembly as part of the government’s program by August.[1] However, the Commission was not created this year.
[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2003/801), August 8, 2003.
