Côte D'Ivoire has a history of crimes against humanity and other mass atrocities, particularly during electoral periods. There were many concerns in the run-up to the 2020 election though, due partly to preventative action by many actors, the large-scale violence and mass atrocities were averted. Despite this, thousands were forced to flee as refugees, and 85 people were killed. The risk today is less acute than it was in the immediate aftermath of the vote, but that risk is still present. The country may be at the beginning of a long-term governance crisis. Political actors within Côte d’Ivoire must take steps to maintain short-term peace and stability while also addressing long-term grievances, democracy, and risk for renewed violent conflict in the coming months and years. Learn about the country’s recent history of war and atrocities and our 2019 assessment of early warning signs.
A September 2020 report from a Simon-Skjodt Center fellow analyzes the evolving risks of mass atrocities in the country and the steps that domestic and international actors have taken to help prevent large-scale violence around the elections in October 2020.
This 2020 brief draws on past mass atrocity events, in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere, to illustrate the potential economic impact of large-scale violence and make the case for the business community’s specific interest and unique role to play in prevention. It then highlights examples of actions taken by private sector entities—both international and domestic—to prevent and mitigate violence in countries at risk.
This 2019 report analyzes the risk of violence and mass atrocity crimes sparked by clashes between supporters of the main political parties in the periods before, during, and after the 2020 election. The report provides recommendations to the government of Côte d’Ivoire, political party leaders, civil society, foreign governments and international organizations, and the media to mitigate these risks.
Our quantitative assessment, from the Early Warning Project, estimates the risk of a new mass killing in Côte d’Ivoire.
Learn about the work of Arsène Brice Bado, PhD, the deputy director of the Institute of Dignity and Human Rights in Côte d’Ivoire.
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Find information on historical cases of genocide and other atrocities.