France and Côte d’Ivoire
- Political relations
- Economic relations
- Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation
- Situation in Cote d’Ivoire (August 24, 2006)
- Extension of the mandate of Ivorian lawmakers (01.06)
- Report to the Security Council on the results of the South African mediation
Political relations
The legacy left behind at decolonization had justified intense political relations giving rise to exchanges and assistance at many levels (43rd BIMA - Navy Infantry Battalion in Abidjan, defence agreements, strong cooperation).
France intervened in Côte d’Ivoire just after the coup attempt on 19 September 2002 in order to protect its nationals. Very quickly, France’s role evolved toward an interposition between the armed forces of the Côte d’Ivoire government and the rebels. This action prevented the country from being thrown into chaos with its succession of massacres and destruction. But in so doing, France was criticized by the two parties for its role, with both parties believing that they were deprived of a military victory because of France’s presence. On the contrary, the international community - the United Nations in particular - endorsed and supported its action.
France constantly attempted to encourage the role of the international community and that of Africans. However, the bombing of a Unicorn (Licorne, France’s peacekeeping force) position by the Côte d’Ivoire’s loyalist army in November 2004, the atrocities to which members of the French community were victim, as well as the necessary reaction of France’s Unicorn force to ensure their protection, strained relations between France and Côte d’Ivoire significantly.
Since 19 September 2002, President Gbagbo took part in the Conference of Heads of State on Côte d’Ivoire in Paris on 25 and 26 January 2003. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Abidjan on 27 November 2002 and 3 January 2003. Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, Mr. Diarra, made several visits to Paris from 28 July-1 August 2003, 2-3 April 2004 and 17-23 June 2005. The Minister of Defence visited Côte d’Ivoire 14-15 September and 31 December 2003. At the invitation of President Bongo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with President Gbagbo in Libreville on 21 November 2003, then in Abidjan on 1 February 2004. President Gbagbo made a working visit to Elysée Palace on 5 February 2004.
Economic relations
Côte d’Ivoire is France’s leading trading partner in the franc area and the third-leading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. France is the leading foreign investor in Côte d’Ivoire: French companies hold 27% of the share capital of Côte d’Ivoire companies. One hundred twenty-eight subsidiaries and more than 500 companies belonging to French business executives account for 68% of foreign direct investments.
It is difficult today to evaluate the medium-term consequences of the repatriation of 8,000 French nationals in the aftermath of the events of November 2004 on France’s presence in this country. The viability of the French SMEs that would provide the Côte d’Ivoire’s economic fabric with unequalled diversity in West Africa has, in particular, been weakened. Today, the objective is more to prevent the formal French sector in Côte d’Ivoire from disintegrating than it is to attract new French investments.
Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation
Since September 2002, cooperation with the RCI (Republic of Côte d’Ivoire) has been on hold, in anticipation of a strong mobilization of the World Bank and the European Union in terms of financing the disarmament process.
As far as France is concerned, provisional measures were taken to maintain institutional cooperation at a level that makes the administration redeployment programme and the restoration of state of law (public safety, restructuring of the armed forces, support to essential social services) quickly and easily practicable. Since December 2002, the AFD (French Development Agency) has discontinued all actions in the RCI (Republic of Côte d’Ivoire) because of the suspension of payment of arrears due (€372M).
The destruction of French schools (November 2004) dealt a major blow to the tradition of Côte d’Ivoire’s elite to turn to the French school system.
Situation in Cote d’Ivoire (August 24, 2006)
We’ve taken note of the statements by the UN secretary-general’s special representative, Pierre Schori, with regard to the organization of the elections in Côte d’Ivoire.
France has already condemned the obstacles to the electoral process launched by the prime minister at the beginning of July. It reaffirms to him its full support in the implementation of the roadmap with a view to setting in place the essential conditions for holding free, open, regular and transparent elections.
The IWG will review in early September the implementation of the timetable agreed by the Ivorian parties at the meeting in Yamoussoukro on July 5, held at the initiative of the UN secretary-general and the African heads of state. The group will identify the obstacles that have been overcome in the past two months and report on this to the UN Security Council.
Extension of the mandate of Ivorian lawmakers (01.06)
France is worried about the announcement in Abidjan concerning the extension of the mandate of Ivorian lawmakers.
France shares the concerns of the UN secretary-general about whether the announcement is in conformity with the African Union decisions and UN Security Council Resolution 1633.
It calls on the Ivorian parties to comply strictly with the provisions of this resolution and with the decisions of the International Working Group (IWG) which were all endorsed by the UN Security Council.
FIRMIN MAHE AFFAIR
REPLY BY MME MICHELE ALLIOT-MARIE,
MINISTER OF DEFENCE,
TO A QUESTION IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
(Paris, 2 November 2005)
The investigation report forwarded to me by the Armed Forces Chief of Staff confirms the seriousness of the acts. It finds that Firmin Mahé was killed by suffocation by French soldiers in an armoured personnel carrier; that soldiers other than those already suspended bear responsibility; and that the Licorne force commander was informed of the facts but did not pass them on to his superiors.
The report reveals two levels of responsibility: on the one hand, direct or indirect involvement in the homicide; and, on the other, falsification of the reports and concealment of all the facts. Consequently, I have decided to suspend the two privates who were present in the vehicle together with the warrant officer class I [master sergeant E8] who has already been suspended, and to bring the three soldiers and their commanding officer before a military investigation commission so that appropriate punishment may be proposed; secondly, to reprimand the general commanding the Licorne force at the time and his deputy. In fact, after agreeing that they could no longer exercise their command, the two general officers have been transferred. These measures are being taken, of course, without prejudicing any criminal prosecution decided on by the judicial authority, to whom I have passed on the investigation report after declassifying it.
As you said, the fact that a grave offence has been committed must not allow us to ignore or play down all the work accomplished and all the risks taken daily by our soldiers in external theatres of operation. On the contrary, it’s the opportunity to stress their exemplary conduct, recognized moreover at world level in all the external theatres of operation, and I have no doubt that all the nation’s elected representatives support them./.
Report to the Security Council on the results of the South African mediation
The South African defense minister, Mr. Lekota, reported to the Security Council on August 31 on the results of the South African mediation in Côte d’Ivoire.
France reaffirms at this time its confidence in and support for the mediation which has continued the implementation of the peace process formulated at Marcoussis and enabled it to reach many stages.
It is time now for the Ivorian parties to apply in good faith and without delay the agreements they signed.
As regards the date of the elections, it is up to the high commissioner for the elections, Mr. Monteiro, to make a decision. As President Chirac said at the opening of the ambassadors’ conference, the goal is still to hold elections that are above question. It is up to all the Ivorian parties to make the necessary efforts to restore trust which is essential for the voting to take place satisfactorily.