IRIN web special on the Cote d'Ivoire crisis

Cote d'Ivoire's worst crisis ever, started with the sound of heavy gunfire around the commercial capital, Abidjan, on 19 September. It took hours for Abidjan's residents to find out what was happening. They later heard on radio that a group of soldiers had mutinied and attempted to topple the government. Fierce fighting continued as loyalist troops drove back the mutineers. It later emerged that some 270 people were killed, among them Interior Minister Boga Douddou and former President General Robert Guei. While the mutineers were eventually pushed out of Abidjan, they retained control of some central and northern towns including Bouake and Korhogo. After neighbouring countries were accused of supporting the rebellion, immigrants suffered harassment in Abidjan. They lost their shelters as shantytowns were destroyed in an attempt by government forces to seek out rebels. Several neighbouring countries have since made arrangements to evacuate some of their citizens. Many more West Africans have gone back home on their own. In the meantime, the mutiny has turned into a full-fledged insurgency, and two new rebel groups have appeared on the scene. The country remains split into two with French troops forming a buffer between government forces and the rebels following a truce signed on 17 October. They are to be replaced by a peacekeeping mission to be deployed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Peace talks organised by ECOWAS in Lome, Togo, initially achieved some success but have since been stalled. In this web special, IRIN takes an in-depth look at what is fast becoming a regional crisis with serious humanitarian consequences, the factors that have fuelled the crisis, its effects and implications.