Yearbook 2008
Ivory Coast. According to
Countryaah reports, the former rebels who rule the Ivory Coast's
northern half began their demobilization in May with the
intention of disbanding their armed forces until the
November presidential election. However, the disarmament
took considerably longer than planned, and when the
registration of voters also expired at the time, the
country's leader in November decided to postpone the
election to 2009.
The presidential election, which would mark the end of
years of conflict in the divided country, would have been
held as early as 2005. The UN Security Council extended the
mandate of the 8,000-strong peacekeeping force ONUCI until
January 2009 and extended a series of sanctions against the
country until October 2009. The sanctions include a ban on
the sale of weapons to the Ivory Coast and the export of
rough diamonds from the Ivory Coast. In addition, a number
of individuals who are considered a threat to peace are
punished with travel restrictions and frozen financial
assets.
Large price increases for food and fuel led to unrest on
several occasions. President Laurent Gbagbo met the food
price protests by cutting import duties and lowering taxes
on a number of basic commodities. To compensate for a 10
percent reduction in sharply increased diesel and gasoline
prices, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro ordered halved
salaries for all ministers and heads of state-owned
companies. Ministers' trips abroad would be limited to the
"absolutely necessary".
The head of the local company, which in 2006 spread more
than 500 tonnes of toxic waste on Abidjan's dumps, was
sentenced in October to 20 years in prison. A port official
who provided the contract to the company was sentenced to
five years in prison. Seven other defendants were acquitted.
The Dutch company that shipped the waste to Ivory Coast
avoided prosecution by paying US $ 200 million to the
Ivorian state. 17 people died and thousands were injured by
the toxic waste.
In December, a military court sentenced 84 soldiers to
two years in prison for violence and looting during a
payroll protest in September. Two men were sentenced to
three years in prison and 18 defendants were acquitted.
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