COTE D'IVOIRE: RECENT ATTACKS IN THE WEST PROVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 000460

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2016
TAGS: PREL PREF KPKO PHUM IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: RECENT ATTACKS IN THE WEST PROVE
AREA STILL VOLATILE


Classified By: DCM VICENTE VALLE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: UN agencies are concerned by a continuing
series of inter-ethnic attacks that have occurred in recent
weeks in western Cote d'Ivoire, mostly around the town of
Bangolo. The attacks have resulted in several deaths,
injuries, and some internal population displacement. The UN
reports the attacks may be linked to the start of the cocoa
planting season when land disputes between the different
ethnic communities are particularly high. The Head of Office
for the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
speculated that certain groups might be manipulating tensions
in order to discredit French military (LICORNE) and UN
security forces in the region. The recent violence
reinforces the fact that this region of Cote d'Ivoire remains
a dangerous place. End Summary.

ATTACKS IN THE WEST INCREASING
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2. (U) UN agencies are concerned by a continuing series of
inter-ethnic attacks in recent weeks occurring in western
Cote d'Ivoire, mostly around the town of Bangolo. An
interagency team conducted an assessment on April 23, 24, and
26 to determine the extent of the attacks and the reasons
behind them. The attacks they investigated occurred along an
axis stretching from the town of Beoue Zagna, south of
Bangolo, and running north to the town of Baibly, all areas
within the Confidence Zone. Bangolo is located north of
Guiglo where anti-UN violence last January resulted in
several deaths among the local population, more than $2
million in material losses to UN agencies and NGOs, and the
departure of the UN Bangladeshi Battalion from Guiglo.
Information is hard to verify on the number of dead and
wounded in the latest incidents, with estimates anywhere from
1-5 dead and 5-10 wounded, but the UN did confirm some
internal population displacement as locals moved mainly to
other villages to stay with family or friends.


3. (U) Local papers reported continued attacks over the
weekend around Bangolo, and closer to Guiglo, that resulted
in at least five dead and seven wounded and more internal
population displacement. One newspaper reported the attacks
were perpetrated by Burkinabe against local Guere populations
while another paper reported the opposite. Papers reported
again on Wednesday that attacks had resulted in four more
wounded and that French military forces (LICORNE) had
arrested four persons believed to have been involved in the
attacks and turned them over to local police. Denis Maho
Glofei, leader of the FLGO, one of the most powerful militia
groups in the West, was reported as saying "if this is war,
we are ready to react." Maho was the architect of the
January 2006 violence in Guiglo.

MOTIVATIONS
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4. (C) The UN points to several possible reasons for the
recent violence: the start of the planting season as locals
attempt to gain control over more agricultural space,
continued mistrust between "locals" and "foreigners" living
in close proximity to each other, and rumors of looming
militia attacks against the Burkinabe that appear intended to
stoke fears and heighten mistrust between local communities.
One paper quoted a LICORNE spokesman as stating that recent
attacks were over land tenure issues. However, Jacques
Seurt, Head of Office for the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) in Abidjan, told RefCoord that he thought
some individuals are purposely manipulating tensions between
the different ethnic groups in order to discredit the French
and UN forces who are supposed to provide security in the
Confidence Zone. Seurt pointed out there was a similar
effort last year and said recent speeches made by political
figures in Cote d'Ivoire only seem to encourage such
activities.

COMMENT
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5. (C) Although the numbers of persons killed, injured, and
displaced in the latest spate of violence remain unconfirmed,
what is clear is that the area of western Cote d'Ivoire
remains unpredictable and unstable, with perpetrators
apparently able to carry out their attacks almost at will in
the Confidence Zone. While it is true that much of the local
violence in Cote d'Ivoire is over land tenure issues,
disputes over property rights in Cote d'Ivoire are reinforced
by ethnic differences and mistrust. These two issues, along
with the question of who is an Ivoirian, lie at the heart of
Cote d'Ivoire's current crisis. Seurt's assertion that
certain elements in the region might want to discredit the
French and UN forces in the area, much as the January attacks

ABIDJAN 00000460 002 OF 002


resulted in the departure of Bangladeshi troops from Guiglo,
is also plausible. Whatever the causes, however, it is
likely that similar incidents will continue in this region in
the coming months.
Hooks