One sub-prefect indicated that the lack of financial support for other government bodies involved in land issues further affects the ability to make decisions and implement rulings. Sub-prefects sometimes rely on the local office of the agriculture ministry to inspect the land while the case is under consideration. Then, after the sub-prefect issues their official decision, representatives from the agriculture ministry go to the land to establish the landowner’s boundaries, paid for by the owner. The sub-prefect said that the agriculture ministry’s office in his region was enormously backed up because of its own lack of means: The [local office] of the agriculture ministry covers three sub-prefectures, all of which have hundreds of these conflicts…. There are dossiers [of cases] I have given them [nine months ago] that they haven’t gotten to yet. So the [land] conflicts continue, even though the order has been issued…. [The local agriculture ministry office] has one motorbike to cover all three subprefectures. The farthest campement for [my sub-prefecture] alone is 50 kilometers from [the main town]…. You can see the difficulties.222 In his response to Human Rights Watch’s letter, Minister Coulibaly said that, “in the course of operations to demarcate village boundaries, the government has decided to provide financial support to village and sub-prefectural land committees.”223 This commitment of financial support is important, given the crucial role that local land committees play in resolving land disputes, including those linked to the post-election crisis. The government did not indicate precisely how much financial support it will provide, or the timeframe it would do so in. Given the scale and nature of land dispossession in western Côte d’Ivoire— and the potential it has to lead to further inter-communal violence—the government should urgently prioritize such support. Excessive Cost The national government’s lack of financial support has led some sub-prefectural committees to set and demand often exorbitant fees, creating a barrier to restitution for displaced persons whose land has been illegally seized. 222 Human Rights Watch interview with sub-prefect, western Côte d’Ivoire, date withheld. 223 Letter from Gnénéma Mamadou Coulibaly, minister of justice, human rights, and public liberties, to Human Rights Watch, September 13, 2013, p. 9. 75 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | OCTOBER 2013