Addressing Côte d'Ivoire's Deeper Crisis
By Thierno Mouctar Bah. Africa Center for Strategic Studies, March 2012.Although Côte d'Ivoire's traumatic post-election standoff has been resolved, legacies of a national identity crisis fostered during ten years of exploitation of ethnic and regional divisions have left this strategic West African country vulnerable to further instability. Avoiding this will require constructive engagement from Côte d'Ivoire's neighbors. International partners' assistance is also needed to build stronger national institutions, particularly a more independent electoral commission and professional military, as well as reinforcement of traditional reconciliation mechanisms.
Download the Brief: [ENGLISH][FRANÇAIS]Education and Conflict in Côte d’Ivoire
By Joseph Sany. U.S. Institute of Peace, April 2010. The Ivorian education system has been both victim and agitator of conflict. Conflict has severely weakened it, leaving fewer productive outlets and opportunities for the country’s large youth population. However, years of undue political influence in the system promoted conflict-prone thinking. Unified and inclusive curricula that prioritize women’s education and the development of northern Ivorian schools would improve national educational capacity and reverse previously biased and polarizing programs. Download the Article: [PDF]Identity Polarization and Conflict: State Building in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
By Ragnhild Nordås. Paper prepared for the conference Polarization and Conflict, June 2007. North-south religious conflict is common in West Africa, but does not occur equally everywhere. Often it is political and based on identity concepts cultivated by elites seeking influence. Côte d’Ivoire’s divisive political rhetoric and winner-take-all politics, for instance, have intricately joined identity and politics and fueled conflict whereas Ghana’s policies promote inclusive nationalism and equal opportunity. Download the Article: [PDF]From Miracle to Nightmare: An Institutional Analysis of Development Failures in Côte d’Ivoire
By Brian Klaas. Africa Today, Fall 2008. Côte d’Ivoire’s democratic opening in 1990 lacked functioning accountability mechanisms, allowing a network of political, business, and military elites to exploit ethnic politics and perpetuate violence and instability for their own financial and electoral gains. To better link elite prosperity to peace and unity rather than violence and division, reforms that require financial disclosure of government officials, prohibit and prosecute ethnic militias, and expand eligibility for political participation are needed. Download the Article: [PDF]Democracy and Civil War: Citizenship and Peacemaking in Côte d’Ivoire
By Abu Bakarr Bah. African Affairs, August 2010. Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral obstacles frequently center on the idea of Ivorian citizenship, which has been repeatedly used in political conflict to conflate ethnicity, religion, ancestral roots, and politics with national citizenship and political legitimacy. During peacebuilding efforts in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere, such challenges are often overshadowed by an emphasis on security, aid, power sharing, and elections. However, overall progress has only limited effectiveness when the root problem of citizenship remains unaddressed. Download the Article: [PDF]The Security Sector in Côte d'Ivoire: A Source of Conflict and a Key to Peace
By Arthur Boutellis. International Peace Institute, May 2011. Côte d'Ivoire's security forces tripled in size in the last ten years, an increase which has been accompanied by the growing political influence of uniformed men. Security sector reform will therefore be priority in stabilizing Côte d'Ivoire's democratic transition. However, efforts must go beyond standard disarmament or reunification objectives and focus on developing, through broad-based consultation, a new security architecture that changes the relationship among politicians, security institutions, and the population. The sustainability and success of any program will be incentivizing willing support from security personnel, many of whom are convinced that they stand to lose from any changes. Download the Article: [PDF]
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