Methodology
This report is based on three research missions to Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia. In December
2012, Human Rights Watch spent a week in Grand Gedeh, Liberia, where tens of thousands
of Ivorian refugees remain after fleeing western Côte d’Ivoire during the 2010-2011 conflict.
Human Rights Watch also undertook two missions to Côte d’Ivoire of around three weeks
each, in February and June 2013, spending a total of four weeks in western Côte d’Ivoire
and two weeks in Abidjan.
While land disputes exist throughout Côte d’Ivoire, this report focuses on land conflict and
dispossession related to the displacement caused by the 2010-2011 post-election crisis.
Western Côte d’Ivoire experienced the heaviest displacement, both in terms of people
displaced within Côte d’Ivoire and people who fled to neighboring Liberia as refugees.
Land conflict has also long been linked to politico-military violence and grave human
rights abuses in that region.
During its field work, Human Rights Watch visited 49 towns and villages in the western
administrative regions of Guémon, Cavally, and Tonkpi. In particular, Human Rights Watch
conducted interviews in following towns and villages:
•
In Guémon: Duékoué, Bagohouo, Yrouzon, Guinglo-Zia, Blody, Toa-Zéo, KahinZarabaon, Séhoun-Guiglo, Fengolo, and Diahouin;
•
In Cavally: Guiglo, Domobly, Guinkin, Kaadé, Ziglo, Bédi-Goazon, Douedy-Guézon,
Ladjikro (campement)1, Béoué, Guibobly, Guéya, Diouya-Dokin, Bloléquin, Goya,
Pohan-Badouebly, Doké, Bloc (campement), Doké II (also known as Laïpleu),
Zomplou, Diéya, Diahibly, Glacon-Bloc, Médibly, Diboké, Zilébly, Oulaïtaïbly,
Tinhou, Dedjéan, Petit-Guiglo, Koadé-Guézon (KDZ), and Denan;
•
In Tonkpi: Danané, Zouan-Hounien, Ouyatouo, Gbontegleu, Batéapleu, Zéalé,
Téapleu, and Bounta.
1 A campement is a group of houses built within or close to the forests in which people work. Villages in western Côte d’Ivoire
tend to exist along the main roads running through the region. The land on which people plant cash crops is often 5, 10, or
even 20 kilometers from the village, so they have built campements to live in while working the land. The campements are
technically part of the village, but are physically distinct.
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HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | OCTOBER 2013