IRIN Chronology of Key Events: Oct 2000-Sept 2002

Year 2000 22 Oct: Ivorians go to the polls to choose a new president. General Robert Guei, chief of the military junta since the December 1999 coup, and socialist candidate, Laurent Gbagbo, are the leading candidates. 23 Oct: The electoral commission, after releasing some results, suspends the operation, saying it would resume the following day. 24 Oct: The commission resumes, releasing results that show Gbagbo in the lead. Then it suspends the results process again. In the afternoon, the head of the electoral commission is kidnapped by armed men. Later in the afternoon, General Guei appears on TV and declares himself president. From his campaign headquarters, Gbagbo calls upon his supporters and all "democrats" to take to the streets. Civilians and the army clash in several neighborhoods of the commercial capital, Abidjan. 25 Oct: Civilians and the army clash again, with fierce fighting around Guei's residence. Around noon, Guei flees Abidjan in a helicopter. By the end of the day, many have died and others are wounded or arrested. In the evening, Gbagbo announces that he is the new president. 26 Oct: Gbagbo supporters and those of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara clash in Abidjan as the latter's supporters demand a re-run of the elections. Ouattara was excluded from the polls on the grounds of nationality, amid claims that he was Burkinabe. Several people are dead or wounded. In the evening, Laurent Gbagbo of the Front Populaire Ivoirien is sworn in as the third president in 40 years. 27 Oct: Pascal Affi N'guessan, a former minister under Guei, is named as Prime Minister by Gbagbo and forms cabinet. 28 Oct: The bodies of 57 dead persons are discovered in the bushes in Yopougon, a district of Abidjan. The crime is alleged to have been perpetrated by the gendarmes of the district of Abobo. 4-5 Dec: A new outbreak of violence pits Ouattara's RDR (or Rally of the republicans) supporters against the army, as it suppresses an RDR demonstration against the exclusion of Ouattara, this time from parliamentary election. 10 Dec: Legislative elections are held. 13 Dec: In parliamentary results, the ruling FPI wins 96 seats, the former ruling party PDCI wins 77 seats, independents get 16 seats and the Parti Ivoirien des Travailleurs (PIT) gets four seats. Year 2001 7-8 Jan: Gunshots ring around Abidjan as armed men simultaneously attack the national TV station, the Agban gendarmerie camp and Gbagbo's house. By noon, the government announces that it has foiled a coup attempt and points fingers at neighbouring countries for alleged involvement. 24-25 Mar: Local municipal elections conducted without violence and with the participation of all major political parties. The RDR, wins most seats, followed by the PDCI, the former ruling party and the FPI of Gbagbo. 30 May: After a freeze in cooperation sparked by the "18 billions scandal", the European Union proposes "a progressive and gradual resumption" of cooperation with Cote d'Ivoire. The scandal occurred in 1998 and involved the misuse of EU funds. The EU's decision to renew cooperation marks the beginning of improved relations with other international agencies. 11 July: Ivorian diplomat Amara Essy is elected as Secretary-General of the Organisation for African Unity, which later becomes the African Union. 7 Aug: After a one-month trial, a tribunal returns a "not guilty" verdict in the case of the eight gendarmes (police) accused of the Yopougon massacre. 8 Oct-20 Dec: National reconciliation forum opens in Abidjan, aimed at easing socio-political tensions. The highlight is the anticipated participation of "the four heavyweights": Laurent Gbagbo, Henri Konan Bedie of the PDCI, Alassane Ouattara of the RDR, and General Robert Guei's Union pour la Democracie et la Paix en Cote d'Ivoire (UDPCI). 15 Oct: Former President Henri Konan Bedie returns to Abidjan after 20 months in exile in France. 19 Nov: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) agrees to discuss a three year economic programme with the Ivorian government. 13 Dec: National reconciliation forum ends. Steering committee publishes 14 recommendations, including what analysts consider the most important: the delivery of a certificate Ivorian citizenship to Ouattara. Year 2002 10 Jan: Meeting of "the four heavyweights" in the Ivorian capital, Yamoussoukro, to strengthen the resolutions of the reconciliation forum. 1 Feb: World Bank resumes full economic cooperation after the country pays its arrears in full. 3 Apr: IMF approves $366 million for three years poverty reduction programme. 31 May: Six men receive jail terms of up to 20 years for involvement in the failed coup attempt of January 2001. Seven others are acquitted. 27 June: Political tension in Cote d'Ivoire increases as the local council elections approach. In Daloa, 400 km west of Abidjan, FPI and RDR supporters clash. Five people are killed and a market burnt. 30 June: Judge delivers certificate of nationality to Alassane Ouattara, whose supporters say it is a victory and opponents cry foul. 7 July: Regional elections take place under high tension and heavy police presence. The ruling Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI) and the former ruling party, le Parti democratique de Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI) each win 18 councils; the RDR win 10 and (UDPCI) takes three. 1 Aug: Former minister, and General-Secretary of UDPCI, Balla Keita, is assassinated in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 6 Aug: President Gbagbo reshuffles his cabinet. For the first time, the RDR is given positions in government. The new composition has 20 FPI members; seven PDCI; four RDR; two PIT; one UDPCI; and three from civil society 9 Sept: Policemen raid the Mayama Editions, publishers of two daily newspapers: Le Patriote and Tassouman - believed by the government to be close to the RDR - in connection with an article published in Tassouman which reported an increase in car-jackings. It also said Interior Minister Emile Boga Doudou's car had been stolen. 13 Sept: General Guei rejects the cabinet slot given to his UDPCI party by the ruling FPI. He calls a press conference and says Gbagbo does not respect his commitments and oaths. Guei announces that his party has broken ties with Gbabgo's party. The President replies: "Noise is only noise." 19 Sept: Heavy shooting in Abidjan. Government says a coup attempt was foiled. It again points fingers at Guei, who is killed, and alleged involvement of Burkina Faso. Some 270 people are killed including Emile Boga Doudou. Mutineering soldiers retain control of Bouake and Korhogo. Confusion still reigns. 22 Sept: Humanitarian agencies say at least 5,000 people displaced and hundreds of residential shelters burnt down in the suburbs of Abidjan, following the failed coup attempt. Ouattara's house is set on fire. 24 September: Ouattara tells a French newspaper he had been a target and that the soldiers who killed Guei were going to kill him also. Troops loyal to the government launch an offensive on Bouake and Korhogo to try and dislodge the army mutineers.