ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Ivorian authorities need a coherent strategy to fight a culture of impunity prevalent since a post-election crisis in 2010, a rights group said from Abidjan.
The International Federation for Human Rights, known by its French initials FIDH, presented a report Wednesday in Ivory Coast expressing its frustration with progress made since the country was pushed to the brink of war in 2010.
"Progress by the Ivorian judiciary up to now has not been sufficient to leave hope that in the near future a major trial will be held on the post-electoral crisis under acceptable conditions," Patrick Baudouin, director of an FIDH legal action group, said in a statement. "The inquiries and judicial procedures need to be much better balanced to ensure the right to truth, justice and reparation for all the victims."
Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo faces trial at the International Criminal Court for his role in the post-election violence. The ICC accused former Ivorian Youth Minister Charles Ble Goude this month of recruiting Ivorian youth to serve as mercenaries loyal to Gbagbo during the height of the conflict.
FIDH said justice was lopsided, however, because of the lack of prosecution for those who supported President Alassane Ouattara.
Human rights groups said both parties to the violence likely committed atrocities.
