ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Members of the Ivorian military are accused of acts of sexual violence and torture in several parts of the country, a U.N. envoy said.
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara set up the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast, known by its French initials FRCI, in March. The force features fighters loyal to former President Laurent Gbagbo and former pro-Ouattara rebels.
Kenneth Blackman, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast, said FRCI fighters were accused of atrocities in several parts of the country.
Four people were killed in the southern town of Sikensi during ethnic clashes involved the FRCI, the mission said. Blackman said Ivorian authorities are working to improve the security sector in the country and overall discipline within the FRCI ranks.
"UNOCI welcomes any action likely to improve the security situation, to strengthen discipline within the FRCI and the disarmament drive," Blackman said in a statement.
Ivory Coast was pushed to the brink of civil war after Gbagbo refused to stand down following November presidential elections that Ouattara won. That election was meant to unite a country divided by an earlier civil war and Ouattara has an uphill battle with post-election reconciliation.
Gbagbo is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity committed after the election.
