A/HRC/26/52
II. Recent developments
A.
Elections
10.
The Independent Expert welcomed the adoption, on 9 April 2014, of a bill amending
Act No. 2001-634 of 9 October 2011 on the membership, organization, mandate and
operations of the Independent Electoral Commission. He believes that this reform should be
integrated into the national reconciliation and democracy building processes, through
consultations with political actors and civil society, with a view to increasing its credibility
and organizing peaceful and democratic elections.
B.
Security
11.
Notwithstanding the undeniable progress the Government has made in improving
security, Côte d’Ivoire has seen a number of armed attacks over the past five months,
including one against the 16th district’s police station in December 2013 and against the
Forces Républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) (Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire) in the
area of Grabo (68 km from Tabou) during the night of 22–23 February 2014. Incidents
involving dozos may have tapered off, but they have not completely stopped. The security
situation is further destabilized by the involvement in recent incidents of former soldiers
who have yet to be disarmed.
12.
The Independent Expert particularly wishes to draw the authorities’ attention to the
risk of land-related intercommunity tensions, such as the incident on 18 April 2014 in
Bouaké, in which approximately 10 Fulani herdsmen were killed during an altercation with
the local communities of Koulakaha village that erupted after a Fulani herdsmen allegedly
killed a dozo on 6 April.
13.
He noted with concern the information contained in the previous report of the Group
of Experts on Côte d’Ivoire, submitted under paragraph 19 of Security Council resolution
2101 (2013), concerning the involvement of former area commanders (“com’zones”) in
smuggling activities likely to foster insecurity. 1
C.
National reconciliation
14.
The Independent Expert noted that the pilot hearing phase of the Dialogue, Truth
and Reconciliation Commission, held from 27 February to 12 March 2014 in Bondoukou,
Yopougon II, Korhogo, Agboville, Adzopé, Bouaké, Duékoué and Gagnoa, took place
without incident. He hopes that the lessons learned during the pilot phase will be put to use
in the national phase, and calls for greater awareness-raising and protection. He also calls
on all political actors to support the Commission’s efforts.
15.
The Independent Expert warns against attempts to bring partisan rhetoric back into
universities, as demonstrated by the tensions that arose at Felix Houphouët-Boigny
University and Nangui Abrogoua University in Abidjan between the end of February and
early March 2014.
1
GE.14-02949
S/2014/266, paras. 172 and 173.
5
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