SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED IN CLASHES OVER ID PROCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000804

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL KPKO IV
SUBJECT: SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED IN CLASHES OVER ID PROCESS


Classified By: Poloff Phaedra Gwyn for reasons 1.4 b&d


1. (SBU) Summary. Several people were killed and more than
twenty injured over the weekend in Divo during violent
confrontations at protests aimed at blocking the "audiences
foraines" -- itinerant hearings -- from going forward with
the identification process. Opposition party leaders are
encouraging their members to respond forcefully when attacked
while the FPI (Ivoirian Popular Front) is threatening to
block all government activities if the hearings are not
stopped within one week. With the opposition youth becoming
increasingly willing to face down the Young Patriots,
tensions are likely to escalate, especially in the western
region of Cote d'Ivoire. End Summary.


2. (C) The city of Divo, an FPI stronghold located in the
center-west of Cote d'Ivoire, had not yet started the
hearings when Young Patriots began erecting barricades
throughout town on July 20. According to newspaper reports,
the confrontations began that day with a scuffle between an
ethnic Dioula (from northern Cote d'Ivoire) and an ethnic
Dida (native to Divo). Tensions mounted on July 22 when
police arrested an RDR (Rally of Democratic Republicans)
member for carrying a machete. RDR youth besieged the police
station until the detainee was released early on the morning
of July 23. Later the same day, RDR members heard that Young
Patriots were going to the local market to burn it down
(Note: Most of the owners of the market stalls are Dioula).
RDR youth proceeded to the market to confront the Young
Patriots and the situation turned violent. Police used tear
gas to try to disperse the youth but according to newspaper
reports, between one and seven youths were killed and more
than twenty sustained injuries from bullet wounds or
machetes. A contact with the UN Office of the Coordinator
for Humanitarian Assistance told us that at least five people
were killed.


3. (SBU) In press conferences on July 23, opposition party
leaders strongly condemned the FPI's efforts to block the
identification process and encouraged their members to use
all available means to ensure that the AF continue. PDCI
(Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire) Secretary General
Alphonse Djedje Mady said members should use violence when
attacked to defend their rights and several RDR party
officials urged their members to continue to confront the
FPI. The alliance of youth groups from the four main
opposition parties announced that they would take it upon
themselves to provide security for the itinerant hearings.


4. (C) Despite the violence, fifty teams of magistrates
continue to register undocumented Ivoirians and foreigners in
pockets of the government-controlled south and across the
entire New Forces (NF) territory. The Ministry of Justice
official in charge of operations for these hearings told us
July 24 that seven more teams would begin working that day
while seven others continue to function in the south. The
activities of sixteen others in the south have been disturbed
by violence, while two teams are working in the Zone of
Confidence. The official said the eighteen teams in the
NF-zone have had no problems. Sidike Konate, Director of
Cabinet for NF Secretary General Guillaume Soro, has been
featured prominently in the newspapers discussing the success
of the itinerant hearings in their zone and encouraging the
FPI to send representatives to observe. Representatives from
the other major political parties are following the hearings
nationwide to make sure the process is fair.


5. (C) Comment: With the opposition youth increasingly
willing to face down the Young Patriots, tensions are likely
to escalate, especially in the western region of Cote
d'Ivoire. True to form, the FPI is complementing their
tactic of street violence by slowly building the case for a
legal challenge to the identification documents being issued
by questioning the transparency of the hearings. End Comment.
Hooks