Turmoil in the Ivory Coast

The Ivory Coast is experiencing a lot of violence as it prepares for its elections. Lawlessness is prevailing as people are being attacked in their homes, and being robbed and raped at road stops. Bandits are strategic and like to attack when they know villagers have money, around the time of the cocoa harvest. In cases of home assaults, females from under a year old to eighty years old have reportedly been raped. The Ivory Coast has been in turmoil since 2002 when the government experienced upheaval due to a coup that divided the nation between the south and the rebel north. In the western part of the country there is no prison and injustice is rampant, as there is not a law court either. The government’s efforts to resolve these problems have been futile, but recently the president has “promised funds to send investigators and specially trained police and social workers to the area.” Hopes are high that with the elections the government will become more stabilized and able to deal with these horrible issues.

I thought that this article was very thorough and presented consistent information. I knew that the Ivory Coast had some issues, but never realized how bad the conditions really were. It’s horrifying to me that the justice system is so corrupt, even demanding bribes before they will report some cases. It’s also tragic that no one has been successful in helping the victims up to this point. I hate to think of all the innocent people, especially the young children and old people, that have suffered. I hope that change will come with the upcoming elections.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hbQMKdsBJoJWMsuVlbt4DxVbBqyg?docId=4909124