Engaged in a decisive battle in Abidjan, the camp has to defend Alassane Ouattara serious allegations of massacres in western countries, including Duekoue. Implicated by the UN, the forces of President recognized by the international community provide, they, having killed that "the militia and not civilians." Monday, March 28, 2011, launch an offensive in the south that led within days to the bastions of outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan, the Republican Forces (FRCI, pro-Ouattara) attacked Duékoué strategic crossroads west.
After very heavy fighting, the city fell into the hands of the next FRCI. But on Friday evening April 1st, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has created a shock by announcing, on the basis of information collected on site, that "at least 800 people" were killed in Duékoué this one day.
It referred without further specification of "sectarian violence". The Catholic NGO Caritas in turn refers to "a thousand" killed or missing, but did not designate not more responsible. Only the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), which recognizes Alassane Ouattara as President and even ensures the protection of its Gulf headquarters hotel, has clearly accused his troops.
If his initial assessment, which should be revised upwards after the ongoing investigation, recalls "330 deaths" between Monday 28 and Wednesday, March 30, including 100 killed by "mercenaries pro-Gbagbo," UNOCI said that "most" of the victims were "executed by the 'dozos' (traditional hunters from the north, ie) of FRCI.
The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) has "confirmed the existence of massacres in the town of Duekoue," but she said the total of "more than 800 people executed" refers to the atrocities of four months of crisis post-election. "We have regular feedback from our sources that executions continue," said an official with the Africa office of the FIDH, Florent Geel.
"Laurent Gbagbo had more than 800 Liberian mercenaries and militias, often young people of the region", has defended the spokesman of Alassane Ouattara, Anne Ouloto. Indeed, many have reported evidence of mass killings committed by Liberian mercenaries and pro-Gbagbo militia in the region during the post-election crisis.
A Duékoué, UNOCI has also reported having discovered a well in the headquarters of a militia leader containing "many bodies". The horror of the last days in the area, however, is "not a surprise," said Rinaldo Depagne, the International Crisis Group (ICG). The region has been "infected by the civil war in Liberia" neighbor (1989-2003), he recalls.
Liberian mercenaries have been recruited by the rebels and Gbagbo's camp (which now form the bulk of FRCI) during the 2002-2003 fighting that led to the partition of the North-South Ivory Coast. Besides the "Great West" has known for years of sectarian violence. Opposed to one side of the indigenous Guéré (allegedly pro-Gbagbo) and the other Ivorians North and West Africans, considered pro-Ouattara, a backdrop of land disputes in the Greater Cocoa .
Politically, the effect of the charges against the camp of Alassane Ouattara, regarded as outside the legitimate president, could be devastating. "It could discredit him," says a UN source. "It will follow," predicted a humanitarian. 
After very heavy fighting, the city fell into the hands of the next FRCI. But on Friday evening April 1st, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has created a shock by announcing, on the basis of information collected on site, that "at least 800 people" were killed in Duékoué this one day.
It referred without further specification of "sectarian violence". The Catholic NGO Caritas in turn refers to "a thousand" killed or missing, but did not designate not more responsible. Only the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), which recognizes Alassane Ouattara as President and even ensures the protection of its Gulf headquarters hotel, has clearly accused his troops.
If his initial assessment, which should be revised upwards after the ongoing investigation, recalls "330 deaths" between Monday 28 and Wednesday, March 30, including 100 killed by "mercenaries pro-Gbagbo," UNOCI said that "most" of the victims were "executed by the 'dozos' (traditional hunters from the north, ie) of FRCI.
The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) has "confirmed the existence of massacres in the town of Duekoue," but she said the total of "more than 800 people executed" refers to the atrocities of four months of crisis post-election. "We have regular feedback from our sources that executions continue," said an official with the Africa office of the FIDH, Florent Geel.
"Laurent Gbagbo had more than 800 Liberian mercenaries and militias, often young people of the region", has defended the spokesman of Alassane Ouattara, Anne Ouloto. Indeed, many have reported evidence of mass killings committed by Liberian mercenaries and pro-Gbagbo militia in the region during the post-election crisis.
A Duékoué, UNOCI has also reported having discovered a well in the headquarters of a militia leader containing "many bodies". The horror of the last days in the area, however, is "not a surprise," said Rinaldo Depagne, the International Crisis Group (ICG). The region has been "infected by the civil war in Liberia" neighbor (1989-2003), he recalls.
Liberian mercenaries have been recruited by the rebels and Gbagbo's camp (which now form the bulk of FRCI) during the 2002-2003 fighting that led to the partition of the North-South Ivory Coast. Besides the "Great West" has known for years of sectarian violence. Opposed to one side of the indigenous Guéré (allegedly pro-Gbagbo) and the other Ivorians North and West Africans, considered pro-Ouattara, a backdrop of land disputes in the Greater Cocoa .
Politically, the effect of the charges against the camp of Alassane Ouattara, regarded as outside the legitimate president, could be devastating. "It could discredit him," says a UN source. "It will follow," predicted a humanitarian.
- Ouattara denies all responsibility for massacre (03/04/2011)
- Ouattara ally calls for renewed offensive - Aljazeera.net (04/04/2011)
- Abidjan Prepares for Violent Showdown (03/04/2011)
- French military takes control of Ivory Coast airport (04/04/2011)
- Gbagbo regime on verge of collaspe - The Australian (03/04/2011)
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