June 5 – June 15

Building upon the recently completed mission to Liberia, Refugees International (RI) advocates Sally Chin and Mamie Mutchler are continuing on to Cote d’Ivoire. RI will be assessing the needs of internally displaced persons and Liberian refugees, as well as conditions for return for Ivorian refugees. RI also expects to focus on the needs of the thousands of “invisible” IDPs not seeking shelter in official transit centers.

Cote d’Ivoire, the world’s leading cocoa producer, used to be considered an African success story, an oasis of stability. Today, the country is in crisis, split geographically in two, with a rebel-controlled north and a government-controlled south. Since the failed coup attempt and the outbreak of fighting in 2002, close to one million Ivorians have been displaced, both internally and externally. Despite the arrival of UN and French peacekeeping forces, renewed violence in late 2004 has led to increased instability and a severe deterioration of living conditions.

A positive advance has been the South-African brokered agreement to hold open elections in October 2005. Nevertheless, the next five months promise to be volatile as many of Cote d’Ivoire’s underlying land-based and ethnic conflicts remained unresolved. Recently, thousands of Ivorians were displaced because of ethnic tensions near the Ivorian/Liberian border.

A critical part of the Ivorian peace process will be the successful disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants. It is also an important step in creating acceptable conditions for refugee and IDP return. RI will be focusing on preparations for the long-awaited demobilization and reintegration process, which will be starting at the end of June. Unfortunately, it appears that the demobilization program is already suffering from poor planning and a severe shortfall in funding. Because of the high payout to ex-combatants ($960), rumors are spreading that demobilized Liberians will be trying to cross the border to be “re-demobilized.” RI is also concerned about allegations of recruitment of Liberian refugees into Ivorian militias.

Refugees International advocates leave Monrovia and arrive in Abidjan on June 5th and will be traveling to IDP and refugee transit centers and camps.