Violence resulting from the Ivory Coast’s prolonged post-election crisis claimed the lives of at least 25 people on Thursday, United Nations officials said today.
In the West African nation’s capital, Abidjan, the United Nations stated that at least 25 people were killed and dozens more injured when supporters of Laurent Gbagbo fired shells into the Abobo neighborhood in the capital.
Since mid-December, the death count has risen to 410 and fighting has escalated in recent weeks, said a statement by UNOCI, the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast.
Pro-Gbagbo forces have been accused of committing crimes against the opposition’s supporters.
“The authors of these abusive acts, which constitute flagrant violations of human rights, will not remain unpunished,” UNOCI noted in a press statement, adding it reserved the right “to take appropriate measures” to prevent such acts in the future.
Ndolamb Ngokwey, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Ivory Coast, told reporters Thursday that “a significant scale-up in terms of effort and funding to be able to deal with the situation” is what is needed to deal with the situation.
The U.N. says that at least 355,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict, with the majority in Abidjan.
Despite have lost the presidential elections, according to the international community, incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo has refused to relinquish power.
In the West African nation’s capital, Abidjan, the United Nations stated that at least 25 people were killed and dozens more injured when supporters of Laurent Gbagbo fired shells into the Abobo neighborhood in the capital.
Since mid-December, the death count has risen to 410 and fighting has escalated in recent weeks, said a statement by UNOCI, the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast.
Pro-Gbagbo forces have been accused of committing crimes against the opposition’s supporters.
“The authors of these abusive acts, which constitute flagrant violations of human rights, will not remain unpunished,” UNOCI noted in a press statement, adding it reserved the right “to take appropriate measures” to prevent such acts in the future.
Ndolamb Ngokwey, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Ivory Coast, told reporters Thursday that “a significant scale-up in terms of effort and funding to be able to deal with the situation” is what is needed to deal with the situation.
The U.N. says that at least 355,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict, with the majority in Abidjan.
Despite have lost the presidential elections, according to the international community, incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo has refused to relinquish power.
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