A/HRC/16/79
G.
Internal and cross-border displacement
23.
The prevailing political situation in Côte d’Ivoire has also triggered the exodus of
thousands of people into neighbouring countries. According to the Inter-Agency Standing
Committee of the United Nations country team, as at 27 January 2011, at least 32,000
Ivorian refugees had registered in Liberia, 340 in Guinea, 168 in Togo, 92 in Mali, 12 in
Burkina Faso and 13 in Ghana, while a total of 13,000 people had sought refuge with the
Catholic Church in Duekoué and 4,000 others in Man. The internal displacement of a
considerable number of members of the Baoulé ethnic group was reported in the village of
Iboke (about 80 km west of San Pedro) in the Grand Bereby district following threats to
their lives by LMP youths in the area. In Sinfra, clashes led to the displacement of
approximately 1,000 people, who sought refuge at the UNOCI Banbatt camp on 28
November. A similar displacement was observed in Yaakro-Koffikouassikro (6 km from
Tiébissou) where 827 people, including 331 women and 176 children, fled the village for
Tiébissou following the clash on 16 December between FDS and FAFN soldiers there.
H.
Allegations of mass graves
24.
UNOCI has received several reports of alleged mass graves in various parts of the
country, mainly in Abidjan, Issia and Lakota (in the Kokora “poulailler” zone, 4 km from
Lakota), Dahiri (4 km north of Lakota) and Lobodiguia (Daloa). Other witnessed alleged
that several corpses had been buried in the Forêt de Banco, in Abidjan. On 28 December
2010, a team of human rights investigators, led by the Chief of the Human Rights Division,
attempted to investigate the alleged killing of between 60 and 80 people whose corpses
were reportedly deposited on 18 December at Ndotré and subsequently removed to a
morgue in Anyama, near Abidjan. A similar attempt had previously been made on 20
December by a team led by the Special Representative. On both occasions, UNOCI
investigators were blocked by soldiers loyal to Mr. Gbagbo from gaining access to the
building in which the bodies were reported to be held. The Special Representative was
stopped at gunpoint and forced to withdraw. Other attempts by UNOCI human rights
officers to investigate reports of the existence of mass graves in Lakota and Issia were
similarly impeded by FDS members and local administrative officials.
I.
Targeting of religious buildings
25.
On 17 and 18 December, FDS members stormed four mosques in Grand Bassam,
Abobo and Williamsville, near Abidjan, during Friday prayers, causing the death of one
person and injury to at least 27 others. In Grand Bassam, a group of police, gendarmes and
marine officers stormed the Sylla mosque around 12.50 p.m. on 17 December while the
Imam was conducting the sermon attended by several worshippers at the Friday prayers.
The FDS threw teargas into the courtyard, creating panic in the crowd of worshippers. As a
reaction, worshippers set fire to a vehicle belonging to the local police commissioner as
well as to his home. In reprisal, the local security forces, reinforced by CRS members
dispatched from Abidjan and aided by informants, broke into private homes and opened fire
on civilians with live ammunition. One person was killed and a dozen others were injured.
On the same day, CRS members fired shots and teargas at worshippers at the Al Hayatt
Mosque in Andokoi 3, near Abobo, injuring 17 people, including 14 women. Similar
incidents were reported in Abobo PK 18, at the Taqwa mosque, and in Williamsville, at Al
Huda mosque. In the latter case, CRS members prevented worshippers from attending
Friday prayers by firing gunshots and releasing teargas in the vicinity of the mosque
between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., destroying property. On 16 December, in Bangolo, near
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