CÔTE D’IVOIRE COI Compilation August 2017 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Regional Representation for West Africa - RSD Unit UNHCR Côte d’Ivoire UNHCR Regional Representation for West Africa - RSD Unit UNHCR Côte d’Ivoire Côte d’Ivoire COI Compilation August 2017 This report collates country of origin information (COI) on Côte d’Ivoire up to 15 August 2017 on issues of relevance in refugee status determination for Ivorian nationals. The report is based on publicly available information, studies and commentaries. It is illustrative, but is neither exhaustive of information available in the public domain nor intended to be a general report on human-rights conditions. The report is not conclusive as to the merits of any individual refugee claim. All sources are cited and fully referenced. Users should refer to the full text of documents cited and assess the credibility, relevance and timeliness of source material with reference to the specific research concerns arising from individual applications. UNHCR Regional Representation for West Africa Immeuble FAALO Almadies, Route du King Fahd Palace Dakar, Senegal - BP 3125 Phone: +221 33 867 62 07 Kora.unhcr.org - www.unhcr.org Table of Contents List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 4 1 General Information ....................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Historical background ............................................................................................. 5 1.2 Geography .............................................................................................................. 9 1.2.1 Map ................................................................................................................. 9 1.2.2 Administrative units ........................................................................................ 10 1.3 Population structure .............................................................................................. 10 1.3.1 Ethnic groups ................................................................................................. 10 1.3.2 Historical migrants ......................................................................................... 17 1.3.3 Religious affiliations ....................................................................................... 19 1.4 Socio-economic situation ...................................................................................... 20 1.4.1 Poverty and unemployment ........................................................................... 20 1.4.2 Corruption ...................................................................................................... 21 1.4.3 Urban violence, banditry and criminality ......................................................... 23 1.5 Environmental Issues ............................................................................................ 25 1.6 International trade embargoes .............................................................................. 26 2 Organization of the State ............................................................................................. 28 2.1 Political system ..................................................................................................... 28 2.2 Judicial system ..................................................................................................... 32 2.2.1 Special Investigative Cell (CSEI) .................................................................... 34 2.2.2 Dialogue, Truth, and Reconciliation Commission (CDVR) .............................. 35 2.2.3 National Investigation Commission ................................................................ 36 2.2.4 Traditional Institutions .................................................................................... 37 2.3 Security apparatus ................................................................................................ 37 2.3.1 National Security Council ............................................................................... 38 2.3.2 Security forces ............................................................................................... 38 2.3.3 Law enforcement forces ................................................................................. 40 3 Security Situation ......................................................................................................... 41 3.1 Land disputes and intercommunal violence .......................................................... 42 3.2 2002-2007: Political tension and civil war .............................................................. 45 3.3 2010-2011: Post-election crisis ............................................................................. 49 3.3.1 Background ................................................................................................... 49 3.3.2 Human rights abuses during the 2010-2011 crisis ......................................... 52 3.3.3 Parties to the conflict ...................................................................................... 54 3.4 Recent developments ........................................................................................... 67 3.4.1 International Criminal Court ........................................................................... 70 3.4.2 Reintegration of former combatants ............................................................... 71 3.4.3 Mutiny and social revolt ................................................................................. 72 3.5 Abuses by armed groups ...................................................................................... 75 4 Migration, Displacement and Internal Mobility .............................................................. 75 4.1 Persons of concern to UNHCR ............................................................................. 77 4.1.1 Refugees and Asylum Seekers ...................................................................... 77 4.1.2 Internally Displaced Persons .......................................................................... 78 4.1.3 Returnees ...................................................................................................... 79 4.1.4 Stateless persons .......................................................................................... 82 2 4.2 Displacement of Ivorians in the neighboring countries .......................................... 84 4.2.1 Liberia ............................................................................................................ 84 4.2.2 Ghana ............................................................................................................ 85 4.2.3 Togo .............................................................................................................. 87 4.2.4 Guinea ........................................................................................................... 87 5 Situation of Human Rights ........................................................................................... 88 5.1 Arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life .................................................................. 89 5.2 Disappearance / Abduction ................................................................................... 90 5.3 Arbitrary arrest and detention .................................................................................. 91 5.4 Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment .................. 92 5.5 Administration of justice ........................................................................................ 93 5.5.1 Right to a fair trial ........................................................................................... 94 5.5.2 Prison conditions ........................................................................................... 95 5.5.3 Death penalty................................................................................................. 97 5.5.4 Accountability for past human rights abuses .................................................. 97 5.6 Ethno-religious discrimination and violence......................................................... 100 5.7 Freedom of religion ............................................................................................. 101 5.8 Freedom of association, assembly and expression ............................................. 102 5.8.1 Freedom of association and assembly ......................................................... 102 5.8.2 Freedom of speech and of the press ............................................................ 103 5.9 Women’s rights ................................................................................................... 105 5.9.1 Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) ................................................. 110 5.10 Rights of the child ............................................................................................... 111 5.11 Sexual orientation and gender identity ................................................................ 114 5.12 Freedom of movement ........................................................................................ 116 5.13 Human trafficking ................................................................................................ 116 5.14 Persons with disabilities and albinos ..................................................................