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The Brewing Civil War No One is Talking About
Laurent Gbagbo
While the world is focusing on airstrikes in Libya and the concern of a nuclear meltdown in Japan, there is a potential civil war in the Ivory Coast. President Laurent Gbagbo refused to give up power to the winner of the latest November election, Alassane Ouattara. The election was intended to reunite the country. The argument between the two leaders has led to an armed conflict with several attacks on civilians. There has also been news about forced disappearances, rapes and torture. The “U.N. estimates at least 462 civilians have been killed.”Thousands of refugees have fled to Liberia. At this time there are around 9,600 troops in the Ivory Coast to maintain the cease-fire agreement. There has been a huge peak in violence throughout the recent weeks in the Ivory coast. The most horrific attack took place on March 3rd. Thousands of women met to protest Gbagbo’s refusal to give up power. Tanks and soldiers showed up and opened fire, killing six people. The violence hasn’t really been public, it has been committed by shady pro-Gbagbo militia groups. As revenge for the violent attacks, forces have started being involved in street fighting. Through all of this fighting, there has been a huge economic effect on the civilians. People are being unemployed, there has been an increase in food costs, and a shortage in medicine.
A fighter against Laurent Gbagbo.
Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo.
Cote D'Ivoire is the local short term for Ivory Coast.