Village chiefs generally resolve issues through compromise, which can be difficult to find in some cases associated with the post-election crisis, as tensions run high. Finally, some village chiefs in western Côte d’Ivoire are part of the problem: Tied up in politics or even involved in illegal land sales themselves, they are unable to play the role of a neutral arbiter. There also do not appear to be clear procedures—for example, in how the village land committees take and consider evidence before making their decision—which increases the potential for unjust results when customary authorities are not neutral. A community meeting in the village of Diouya-Dokin, organized by the Norwegian Refugee Council, to try to find solutions regarding disputed parcels of land. Village authorities play a crucial role in resolving land conflicts in western Côte d’Ivoire. April 25, 2013. © 2013 Tamasin Ford Inclusive vs. Divisive Land Committees There are two main archetypes for the village committees managing land disputes in western Côte d’Ivoire: those that give representation and decision-making influence to all affected communities, and those that include only the patriarchy of the native population. Based on Human Rights Watch’s observations and interviews, including with humanitarian 65 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | OCTOBER 2013