Paul Kehoe
Question:107 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the political situation in the Ivory Coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30043/04]
View answerWednesday, 24 November 2004
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The current crisis in Cote d'Ivoire arose following a decision by the Ivorian Government, led by President Gbagbo, to launch a military offensive at the start of November to retake the rebel-held northern part of the country. This decision came after an announcement by the rebel Forces Nouvelles, FN, on 28 October that they were recalling their members of the coalition government to the territory under their control and also ceasing their participation in the disarmament process, in protest at what they perceived as failure by the Gbagbo Government to honour earlier political reform commitments. The military offensive launched by the Ivorian Government in early November represented a clear and unjustified breach of the ceasefire in effect since May 2003. The actions of the Ivorian government resulted in widespread civilian casualties in the rebel-held areas as well as the deaths of nine French peace-keepers and one US civilian. In retaliation for what France regarded as a premeditated attack against its troops, the French airforce launched strikes which destroyed virtually the entireIvorian airforce.
This response provoked widespread rioting and attacks against French citizens and property as well as other non-nationals in Abidjan and other Ivorian cities on 7 and 8 November. It is estimated that approximately 30 people were killed and 900 injured in the violence which ensued. In response to the situation, a number of EU member states, for example UK, Netherlands, Spain and Italy sent either military aircraft or small military contingents to Côte d'Ivoire to assist with the evacuation of their citizens as well as other non-Ivorian nationals wishing to evacuate. Some 5,000 non-Ivorian nationals, including one Irish national, are judged to have been evacuated from Côte d'Ivoire since the present crisis began.
The situation in Abidjan and throughout Côte d'Ivoire has stabilised in recent days, though the situation remains extremely tense. Life is described as returning to normal in Abidjan and other major cities while the humanitarian situation in the rebel-held northern part of the country is also slowly improving. However, there is concern over an influx of Ivorian refugees intoLiberia, with the UNHCR estimating that between 5,000 to 10,000 have fled from Côte d'Ivoire into Liberia in recent days.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1572 on 15 November which imposes an immediate 13-month arms embargo against Côte d'Ivoire and also provides for the imposition of further sanctions, an assets freeze and travel ban by 15 December, in the event that either the Ivorian Government or the rebel Forces Nouvelles fail to honour in full their various commitments under the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III peace accords. The council resolution also condemns the government air strikes of 4 and 6 November and demands that all Ivorian parties to the conflict fully comply with the May 2003 ceasefire. The resolution also reiterates the council's full support for the action undertaken by UNOCI, the UN peace-keeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire, and the French forces.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council discussed the events in Côte d'Ivoire on Monday and adopted conclusions which, inter alia, called on the relevant Ivorian parties to fulfil without delay all their commitments made in the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and reaffirmed in Accra and making clear that, if they fail to do so, the European Union will apply from 15 December onwards the further sanctions provided for in Resolution 1572. It is clear that there can be no military solution to the problems which face Côte d’Ivoire and that the Ivorian Government and political parties must spare no effort to re-establish political order and security and resume political dialogue. The European Union has also made clear that it fully supports the ongoing mediation efforts being undertaken by the African Union and the sub-regional organisation, ECOWAS, and which offer the best prospect of achieving progress if the 15 December deadline for full implementation of existing political commitments is to be achieved. The clear support offered by the regional AU Summit held in Abuja on 14 November for the imposition of UN sanctions against Côte d’Ivoire in line with those subsequently enacted in Resolution 1572 is particularly to be welcomed.