58
“They looked at his identity card and shot him dead”
Six months of post-electoral violence in Côte d’Ivoire
8. RECOMMENDATIONS
Evidence collected by Amnesty International clearly demonstrate that crimes under
international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by
all sides. To ensure justice and reparations and to re-establish the rule of law and the
confidence of all the citizens in their judicial system much more is needed than just a
process of truth and reconciliation.
After more than 15 years of xenophobic discourse that tore apart the people of Côte d’Ivoire,
there is an urgent need to reassure and protect the different communities who live in Côte
d’Ivoire. Unfortunately, the very serious violations and abuses committed by the FRCI and the
armed elements fighting alongside them since the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo send the signal
that people from ethnic groups considered to be supporting Laurent Gbagbo continue to be
targeted.
President Alassane Ouattara and his government should live up to their promises of fighting
against impunity and ensuring justice and reparation to all victims whatever political
affiliation or ethnic group they belong to. If this is not done as a matter of priority, the future
of Côte d’Ivoire risks plunging again into a cycle of human rights violations and abuses that
go unpunished and that will provoke calls for revenge and lead to further violence.
In order for the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire to re-establish the rule of law and reassure and
protect the population Amnesty International makes the following recommendations:
Amnesty International calls on Alassane Ouattara and his government :
Issue clear public instructions to all security forces to comply with Ivorian law and
international human rights law and make clear that anyone responsible for ordering, carrying
out or failing to prevent human rights violations and abuses, especially those involving
unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture or sexual violence, will be held
accountable for their actions.
To exercize strict control over their armed forces and hold to account any member of
those forces for their actions constituting human rights or international humanitarian law
violations, or for allowing others to commit those violations.
Put an immediate end to the reprisals perpetrated by the FRCI against real or presumed
supporters of Laurent Gbagbo and ensure that no more violations, including ill-treatment and
extrajudicial executions, are committed by FRCI members throughout the Ivorian territory.
Immediately suspend, pending investigation, any person in a position of authority
suspected of committing violations of international humanitarian or human rights law since
Amnesty International May 2011
Index: AFR 31/002/2011