An End to Violence in Sight for Cote d’Ivoire?

Civilians signal they are unarmed as they go out in search of provisions in Abidjan. Violence has left many stuck indoors. (European Pressphoto Agency, Legnan Koula / April 5, 2011)

You may be wondering what happened to our updates from Cote d’Ivoire. As the situation has worsened, our studio coordinator About Karno has been unable to continue.  Our offices in Abidjan were ransacked last week. The guard was tied up (although unharmed) and all equipment was stolen. This week, looters returned to see if they could take anything else, namely the cars. Abidjan has a 12 noon curfew and right now our staff in-country are safe but are largely unable to leave their homes. Some have already lost loved ones to the violence that does not discriminate between militant and civilian. Yesterday a friend of our country director was killed in her home; the victim of a rocket launched into her housing complex.

Yesterday French and UN forces went on the offensive against Laurent Gbagbo. Their attacks coincided with those from local pro-Ouattara troops. Ouattara’s prime minister, Mr. Soro declared yesterday the Gbabgo’s rule was hours from ending.

‘Our forces have made significant advances,” he told the New York Times. “In a few hours it will be all over. We came into the city of Abdijan today, and I think it will soon be finished.”

AFP map showing the locations of fighting in Abidjan

For those living in Abidjan, however, the city is effectively under siege. Moving around the city is dangerous and difficult and resources continue to dwindle. Regardless of what comes, it will be a hard road back to normalcy. Thousands of people have already fled or been displaced from their homes and the very real tensions that exist within Ivorian society have only been inflamed by the conflict. The UN-French strikes have been deployed as a humanitarian measure, to prevent the use of heavy weapons against civilians. However, Ivorians who resent foreign intervention (especially from the French) may only be more distrustful of Ouattara if this most recent attack succeeds. And certainly the issue of Ivoirité which has figured so largely in this conflict and the civil war will not leave with Gbagbo. Furthermore, there have been abuses of civilians by forces loyal to both Gbagbo and Ouattara that will have to be addressed if the country is to come together to rebuild.

Check here for more updates.