CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Clashes between peacekeeping forces and civilians: lessons for the future

1. INTRODUCTION

International peacekeeping forces (French soldiers of the Force Licorne and (UN) peacekeepers) have played an important role in Côte d’Ivoire since the beginning four years ago of the armed conflict that has resulted in the de facto partition of the country. The legitimacy of their presence has, however, been called into question by supporters of President in the wake of two very serious confrontations – in November 2004 and January 2006 – between Ivorian civilians, the majority of them unarmed, and international peacekeeping forces. During large-scale demonstrations and confrontations with civilians, who had the tacit and at times explicit approval of the security forces and some Ivorian politicians, international peacekeeping forces used lethal force in November 2004 and January 2006. Dozens of civilians were killed and injured. In both cases, the peacekeeping forces maintained that they had acted in self-defence. Political parties and groups professing support for President Gbagbo have, for their part, repeatedly insisted that peacekeeping forces fired live bullets at "unarmed demonstrators". This report is based on information obtained during two investigative missions by – in 2005 and 2006 – following these clashes.

In January and February 2005 a delegation visited , the economic capital of the country, to investigate the circumstances in which French soldiers of the Force Licorne used lethal force in November 2004. Amnesty International researchers also investigated attacks against French nationals and Ivorian journalists by self-professed supporters of President Gbagbo, during which the Ivorian security forces failed to intervene to protect them and their property.

Amnesty International has not been able to establish the exact toll of the victims of the clashes in Abidjan of November 2004, although it is clear that dozens of civilians were killed or injured. Amnesty International’s delegates were unable, despite requests, to meet either the forensic doctor or the public prosecutor, or to visit the morgues in Abidjan, because the Ivorian authorities had initiated a judicial investigation into these incidents and all information was therefore sub judice. Amnesty International has, however, been able to gather a significant number of testimonies from victims and their relatives, as well as from representatives of the Ivorian and French armed forces. There is no doubt that French troops had to confront large numbers of demonstrators, who at times threatened their lives or those of others, and had to evacuate French and other foreign civilians in difficult circumstances. Information gathered by Amnesty International about the circumstances in which French soldiers deployed lethal weapons during confrontations with demonstrators in Abidjan in November 2004, however, shows that French forces had, in some cases, used excessive force when faced by demonstrators who constituted no direct threat either to their lives or those of others.

In July 2005 the results of Amnesty International’s investigation were sent as a confidential memorandum to the Ivorian President and the French Ministry of Defence, with the intention of obtaining their comments and opening a dialogue on the recommendations put forward by Amnesty International to ensure that such incidents did not recur. The Ivorian government has not, to date, responded to Amnesty International. The French Ministry of Defence has sent two letters to the organization denying that French soldiers of the Force Licorne used excessive force. In January 2006 an Amnesty International delegation met representatives of the French Ministry of Defence. Section 4.2 of this report se