The status of the Independent Electoral Commission continued to be a source of dispute in 2005.  Opposition parties continued to claim that the new Commission violated the Linas-Marcoussis agreement. In April, the parties signed the Pretoria Agreement, in which they agreed to additional reform of the Electoral Commission. The reformed Commission was sworn in in October.^[1]

[1] “Ivory Coast’s electoral commission sworn in,” Agence France Presse, October 17, 2005/

By June, a draft law on the reform of the Independent Electoral Commission was under consideration by the National Assembly.^[1] The National Assembly passed a law on public funding during its August-September session.^[2] In December, the National Assembly abolished the constitutional requirement that candidates for President have Ivorian parents.^[3] Also in December, the Assembly passed a law reforming the Independent Electoral Commission. The Forces nouvelles received three seats on the commission, while each party in the legislature received two. Opposition political parties claimed the Commission would not be sufficiently independent of the executive.^[4]

[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/443), June 2, 2004.

[2] “Third progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/962), December 9, 2004.

[3] “Ivory Coast parliament completes vote on peace pact laws,” Agence France Presse, December 17, 2004.

[4] “Ivory Coast parliament passes law creating electoral commission,” Agence France Presse, December 10, 2004.

The Linas-Marcoussis Agreement required that the transitional powersharing government modify Ivory Coast’s election process by allowing for greater representation of opposition groups on the Independent Electoral Commission, enact legislation regarding public funding for political parties, and address “the status of the opposition.” It also included draft language to modify the Constitution to clarify the requirements for presidential candidates, including their citizenship.

By August, the transitional government’s draft program, which included proposals to review voter registration and address public funding for political parties, was under review by the National Assembly.^[1] An August report by the UN Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (MINUCI) suggested the government had a five-month timeline for modifying the Constitution’s provisions on the Presidency to be consistent with the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.^[2] However, it does not seem that the constitutional reform process began this year or that the National Assembly passed the government’s program.

[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2003/801), August 8, 2003.

[2] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2003/801), August 8, 2003.

In April, the parties signed the Pretoria Agreement, agreeing to immediately begin the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program. However, in May, the Fources nouvelles made their participation in the DDR program contingent on additional political reforms and further security guarantees.^[1] Disarmament did not begin in 2005.

[1] “Fifth progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2005/398), June 17, 2005.

The National Armed Forces and Forces nouvelles met in January and February to discuss the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program required under the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement. The parties agreed to initiate the DDR program on March 8. However, a coalition of opposition parties withdrew from the transitional powersharing government in March, causing further delay in the DDR process.^[1] On July 30, the parties signed the Accra III Agreement, committing to begin the DDR process by October 15. However, demobilization did not begin in 2004.^[2]

[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/443), June 2, 2004.

[2] “Third progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/962), December 9, 2004.

The Linas-Marcoussis Agreement outlined a two-step disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program to be undertaken by the transitional powersharing government. First, the new government would canton all ground forces in conjunction with ECOWAS and French forces. Second, these forces would be disarmed under the supervision of France and ECOWAS. The first phase was to begin immediately after the conclusion of the conference in Linas-Marcoussis.

A March UN Security Council report on the status of the implementation of the agreement noted that disarmament had not begun, citing delays in both the formation of the transitional powersharing government as well as logistical issues affecting the deployment of ECOWAS forces that were to oversee cantonment.^[1] The first report of the UN Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (MINUCI) in August noted that the transitional government had formed and begun drafting a DDR program. Cantonment was to begin on July 31, and disarmament was to be completed by early September. The Forces nouvelles delayed joining the DDR process until the amnesty law was passed in August.^[2] The Forces nouvelles withdrew from the DDR process and the transitional government in September, which stalled disarmament.^[3]

[1] “Report of the Secretary-General on Cote d’Ivoire.” United Nations (S/2003/374), March 26, 2003.

[2] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2003/801), August 8, 2003.

[3] “Second report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2003/1069), November 4, 2003.

In March, the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) noted that the return of state administration in the northern part of Ivory Coast had been minimal. State education services continued to be disrupted in the Forces nouvelles controlled north.^[1] The Pretoria Agreement, which the parties signed in April, did not address the economic situation.

[1] “Fifth progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2005/398), June 17, 2005.

The UN Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (MINUCI) reported in January that “the economic situation in the areas controlled by the Forces nouvelles is dire” due to the breakdown of the formal economy, civil service administration, and social services.^[1] Some state civil administrators were redeployed to the north and west of the country by the end of January. Schools in the rebel-held north officially reopened in February but lacked sufficient staff.^[2] The parties met in Accra, Ghana, July 29-30 and signed the Accra III Agreement, which called for the transitional government to “establish a timetable for the restoration of State administration and public services throughout the country.” Despite the breakdowns in the ceasefire in November, the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) reported the redeployment of civil servants and restoration of some government administration in the north and west during the final three months of 2004.^[3]

[1] “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1514 (2003) of 13 November 2003,” United Nations (S/2004/3), January 6, 2004.

[2] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/443), June 2, 2004.

[3] “Third progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/962), December 9, 2004.

Under the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, the transitional powersharing government was to “facilitate the resumption of educational, administrative, economic and social activity” in Ivory Coast and prepare a plan for reconstruction and development.

The first UN Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (MINUCI) report noted that the transitional powersharing government had begun sending technical assistance missions to the rebel-controlled north^[1] and reopened road and rail links between the north and south.^[2] Draft laws regarding economic recovery were under consideration by the National Assembly as of August, but it is unclear whether they were passed in 2003.

[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2003/801), August 8, 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.

In April, the parties signed the Pretoria Agreement, agreeing to immediately begin the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program. However, in May the Fources nouvelles made their participation in the DDR program contingent on additional political reforms and further security guarantees.^[1] Demobilization did not begin in 2005.

[1] “Fifth progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2005/398), June 17, 2005.