Journal Time!

1. Journal Time! • What is the purpose of the U.N? • When should the U.N. get involved in a conflict?

2. How does the United Nations continue to make a difference in International Relations? #1 Summarize the current conflict in Cote d’Iviore #2 Explore the benefits and limitations of United Nations intervention.

3. Cote d’Ivoire • Cote d’Ivoire was a French Colony that established independence in 1960. • Like other colonies, the national lines were drawn without consideration for ethnic similarities and differences.

4. Cocoa • Ivory Coast has very good environment for growing cocoa. • They were also one of Africa’s leading exporters of Pineapples and Palm tree oil. • For a long time after independence, Ivory Coast has been one of the more prosperous Western African Nations. • In the 1990’s that began to change.

5. Laurent Gbagbo • In 1999 there was a military Coup, and General Robert Guei became president. • The next year he decided to hold elections, and he lost to Laurent Gbagbo. • AlassaneOuattara who was a government official was disqualified by the supreme court due to his Burkanese decent.

6. First Civil War • In reaction to the immigrants moving in, especially the Muslims in the North, the government started referring to them as not being Ivorian. • The Northerners began to complain that they were being discriminated against. • Many were denied National identity cards and the right to vote.

7. In 2002, some Northern soldiers marched on the capital, and almost took it, but the UN came in with 9,000 peacekeepers and the French army to preserve peace. • The country was pretty decisively split into North and South.

8. Flash Forward • In 2010, Gbagbo calls for elections. • His competition was Ouattara, a Muslim Northerner. • Ouattara won 54%-46%. • The International Community recognizes Ouattara as the President

9. The United Nations comes to the rescue with economic sanctions against Cote d’Ivoire. • These went on for months. • Including cutting Cote d’Ivoire off from the regional banking system. • EU, UN, US, and AU all speak out against Gbagbo… to no avail.

10. Civil War #2 • History Repeats itself. • The Northern Army once again makes it way down trying to take control. • At least 1,500 killed, one million fled since November election. • Both sides are attacking citizen supporters.

11. Due to the increased military presence on the streets, many people in the city would not leave their houses. • This had a continuing negative effect on the economy. • No matter what side you belong to, someone will want to kill you.

12. Ouattara, who’s life was in major danger, was holed up in an hotel near the capital. • Gbagbo’s army had surrounded the hotel, blocking it off from all supplies. • UN Peacekeepers were able to keep funneling supplies.

13. The UN and French troops finally started bombing the capital. • Ouattara’s army surrounded Gbagbo’s house, and forced him to surrender.

14. Gbagbo is currently under house arrest in a villa. • There are rumors of him being sent to The Hague to the International Court of Justice.

15. Now what? • How to restore Ivory Coast: • Sanctions have been lifted • 2 month amnesty for returning weapons • Markets are coming back only a couple days after the arrest of Gbagbo

16. What did the UN do? • The UN took 2 different actions. They deployed Peacekeepers and they imposed economic sanctions. • Each of these has their merits. • On the back of your notes, write 5 reasons or details in support of the UN deploying Peacekeepers to solve the problem. Then write 5 reasons or details in support of the UN imposing economic sanctions.