Violent times in Africa's Ivory Coast

Enemies Within - Ivory Coast, Feb 2003
The Ivory Coast was once the pride of Africa, leading the way with its fledgling democracy and growing prosperity. Now it lies on the cusp of civil war, its economy in tatters.
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A man cowers in a small hovel, too scared to reveal his face. Pro-government militia bulldozed his town, leaving him homeless. He is just one of millions displaced by the recent unrest. The Ivory Coast is ruled by the Christian south, who manipulate nationality laws to prevent their northern rivals gaining power. The government used to buy and sell the cocoa crop but the World Bank forced them to stop. Farmers were left at the mercy of international markets and millions saw their incomes plummet. Now two thirds of the population are unemployed. The people are angry and Muslims from the north, foreigners and sinister multinationals are being blamed. Those with most to fear are immigrants, who make up a third of the population. Many have been here for three generations, but are still regarded as foreigners. Now they are rebelling against the government. 'Even if we have to fight against helicopters and tanks with stones and knives we will do so,' states rebel commander Cherif Ousman. He wants the government to scrap identity laws which make it difficult for northerners to vote. Unless something is done quickly, it may be too late to halt the slide towards war.
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Produced by Mentorn (Ref. 1514)
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

[@amyvb1]

Thank you for posting this video, it shows some amazing images of Cote d'Ivoire during the conflict.

[@BrandsAmbassy]

Did you ever asked how the Euro went up? Do you know that all the African countries under CFA pay in gold every year the membership fees ? Do you know that since devaluation of the CFA some of those countries would be condemned to pay until the end od the world ? Just because the yearly fee has multiplies by 750%. This situation has trapped so many country into debt so they stick with France no matter the situation.

[@conan6908]

Because at one time, it used to be part of French West Africa which was appx. the size of the Eastern U.S. There was a region called the Gold Coast (now Ghana) because of the gold found in that region. In the Ivory Coast where there used to be a lot of elephants at one time, used to be popular with hunters for the ivory trade from the elephants they used to hunt. When French West Africa dissolved around 1960, the Ivory Coast (region) became it's own country and the nationals kept this name.

[@guerillachan20]

Conflict in Africa started in 80's and has spread like wild fire to all other countries like domino effect. It influenced many other African nations. Ethopia vs Eriteria, Somali, Angola, Serra Leone, Ivory coast, Mali, Sudan, Chad, Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Liberia, and Libya. Now how can it be that just during this period they had intense conflicts now I don't know why but it is strange.

[@darcyb9529]

Holy crap Journeyman Pictures... what's with the high pitched tone in the soundtrack of the video? Every dog in my neighbourhood was sitting at my front door. It was painful. It's a shame because it was a really interesting video.

[@Linguiphile]

Unfortunately, while it is undeniable that Islam is the most backward, violent, and intolerant of religions, the worsening catastrophe in West Africa is not just the fault of religion. African nations have a long-standing tendency toward corruption, bribery, economic stagnation and civil war. Decades of foreign aid and investment, as well as instruction on everything from modern agricultural techniques to business have had little effect. My appreciation to Journeyman Pictures.

[@NR9Productions]

What's the situation like here now? Im travelling here next month,,,

[@icerevolution]

whether biased or not, I think any documentary that helps the world understand situations better and get the discussion going so that people don´t ignore the problems, the better

[@usnico]

at 4 min mark or so you forget Robert Guei who was briefly military ruler and from the northwest not the south ...

[@FionaGoggins]

No I think Kwamesei is correct in saying his reporting is inaccurate, the comment about Ivoirians thinking themselves to be a 'cut above the neighbours' is a bit rich... the basilica was actually built by the former president, but at the time Christians represented a very small percentage of the population, and as I understand it the government isn't terribly impressed about the french presence, though to be fair I'm not sure if they invited them here initially or not...

[@Corinnenandre]

i love my country but i think its time for us to have a better immigration law... they are too many people that enter and live in our country illegaly... they are lot of people from burkina faso and Mali living in the north that at the end u cant really tell who is ivorian or not... it sad.. the true ivorian from the north have to suffer because of this.. they are being called foreigners in their own country,,, u ask a foreigner his paper and he calls u xenophobic.

[@GenesisOne26.27]

i couldnt have said it better. sometimes i wonder why all these ppl come to my country, go to school and get all these great degrees while learning different types of skills, but the never return home to use their skills for their struggling brothers in africa.

[@conan6908]

They are still a young country and are still going through their 'growing pains'. Most countries have or are going through that at this very moment. Hopefuly, they will sort it out in the years to come.

[@gangsterchronicle]

@hexcane Appartheid was the legacy of Dutch colonial exploitation, just as Indian economic growth has taken place due to the British institution of European class values. Jamaica is another example: Britain evacuated the nation without instating any lasting central government whatsoever.

[@flyroc64]

If they took your Camera, how did you have these pics ?

[@sterlingwalter6225]

[Narrator at 10.45 mins)]:..." For many of these men the Army was the first chance to earn a wage...the Ivory Coast has followed most of the rules laid down in the West that is supposed to make economies grow, but these men remain poor and desperate." ...the rules formulated by the World Bank and the IMF ?? what a joke. those are the rules that keep men poor. ... please, get reel ....Get rid of the international Banks and you get rid of the problem.

[@marvi1515]

does anyone know when elections are going to be held in ivory coast?

[@allenco65]

what year was this video made

[@BrandsAmbassy]

The French army occupied that position in Bouke without the approval of Ivorian government..a Strategy to prevent the rebellion to be crushed since they invented this rebellion. Later, taking advantage of their presidency at UN Security council they imposed themselves as the intervening force to sort out the problem they created( a failed coup) to be continued.

[@BrandsAmbassy]

The best way is to honest admit that it our own opinion and judgment rather than telling people that it the reality. We should make the distinction between fact and reality...the fact that people are saying this or claiming that does always reflect the reality and a good journalist should know that .

[@gangsterchronicle]

@hexcane but to suggest that is to make a blanket comment on colonialism. In actuality one has to distinguish between the characteristics of British, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and French colonialism. They were all white colonists, but each had radically different attitudes towards colonisation. In all instances the nature of these colonies has predicated the modern situation each nation finds itself in.

[@spakdiddy]

this is not france's doing as much as it is certain regional leaders (senegal, ghana)who have been the main beneficiaries of this conflict in cote d'ivoire. Well they will get what is coming for them.

[@BrandsAmbassy]

I don't know what we got through "them"(Euro) apart from those lies on behalf of France ? We were told that the problem was ethnic or religious...we all know now that it has never been the case...the mains opponents in this conflicts are the French and the President who wanted take off the grip of France from the country. The others, Soro Guillaume the rebels leader is "Christian" and Mamadou Coulibaly is from the North and is Muslim...Sangare is Muslim and is against the rebellion

[@Boborasshanti]

I totally agree with your media statement,you sound like my wife who is Ivorian. On the other hand, I think there is something to be said about the fact that most trade is oriented outwards (France/Euro) and that the interior is frustrated because they do not share in the wealth of the nation(much of the wealth generated in the interior),the infrastructure of the interior speaks to this fact.The US&China simply exploits that frustration. So I see the US/China as no better than France.

[@Ancientafrica]

I'm Liberian. Why everybody wants to migrate to Ivory Coast? Why everybody wants to migrate to South Africa? Why Every African wants to come to Europe? Why can you stay home and try to develope your home. Too many foreigners in Ivory Coast; they willl break down (tribal conflicts, etc). They should deport lots of foreigners as possible, just as France, USA,Ghana,Nigeria and other contries did. Go back to Mali, Liberia, Guinea, etc to help with your developement. France wants Ivorycoast down.

[@BrandsAmbassy]

A biased doc does not help but worsen the situation....that's the problem because you got people who do not have enough sense to read between the lines as we doing now.

[@BrandsAmbassy]

The point is that a true independent Country should decide what is better for the people not another colonial power controlling and deciding for them. We don't have to be clever to know that China and the US could be worst but at least the choice would be made by the people not imposed.

[@ferari912]

i left here in 2001 when i was 8

[@underseas]

i just visited the ivory coast and attended a gbagbo rally,there were muslims and christians there and members of all major tribes (agni,bete and baulet).I dont feel this documentary truly reflects what i saw or the perception held by all of the people I met in cote d ivoire. The role as a 'dependant' state of france seem like the reality to me.French intersts and control are a reality-who is supporting the rebels?I think the two are clearly linked-we like supporting chaos if it serves our needs

[@icerevolution]

well I mean wouldn´t a doc that say´s one thing or the other just distort someones way of thinking? People aren´t that stupid, someone will eventually say something in regards to anothers comment in disagreement. I mean what would be the best way to explain the situation to a new viewer?

[@conan6908]

It seems that since they had only their one president (Houphuet Boigny) since the country's independence, that when he died, the country panicked and scrambled to try to figure out what to do and who to elect as their next president. Sad because the country had lost a much-beloved leader and this, I think also might have caused them to lose hope and direction. Combine these problems with the fact that there was underlying ethnic and religious tensions as well between the north and south..

[@gangsterchronicle]

@hexcane The result is the Island's political division into two factions between the 40's and 60's and the eventual degeneration into politically sponsored gang warfare evidenced today. To suggest this isn't a 'colonial legacy' is sheer naivety.

[@cheri71188]

Your fight Ivory Coast is not with each other! Your fight is for your own survival. Stop fighting each other!!!! Your fight is with the west not Ivory Coast!!

[@Strawberryfearsforever]

@KacyJenkins, I'm sure you must have been born and raised in one of these countries you speak of.😒

[@amyvb1]

They are scheduled for 30 Nov 2008, but are likely to be postponed because the voter registration won't be completed...

[@FionaGoggins]

It's an interesting report, and I'm not saying it's completely wrong, it's just a bit one sided... but now that I'm back in the so-called "west" I'm realising more and more how much our views are created for us...

[@HenryJTV]

This is absurd, I hope it don't spread back to Liberia

[@Corinnenandre]

@gripcontrol I dont know where ur from but dont say something if u know nothing about the situation.. the rebels trained in burkina faso.. every body knows that... a lot of the rebels that were captured spoke english and were from liberia.. they said that they were told to come help cote d'ivoire..

[@Ancientafrica]

@kickitable Not True. Kingdoms were countries based on tribal borders which are still in effect in all countries worldwide (Africa, Germany, France, Spain, etc). If one tribe moves into another tribe's area, it automatically brings problems (land issue is key). Everybody from everywhere should NOT live in Ivory Coast. The only solution to Ivory Coast's problem is mass deportation like what the USA is now also doing. Why is France deporting Roman, etc? Why is Europe stopping African Migration?

[@Ancientafrica]

@fineguh : I don't want African killing each other like this. A solution is also not to make indiginous Ivorian feel second class. Migration has to be controlled; even from within the same country. Because of bad enviroment conditions, northen tribes are now completely moving in areas of other tribles. It automatically turns into compatition for resources, then warfare (IvoryCoast). Countries like France, etc who wants us out of this earth get involve. Enviromental problems must be solved.

[@BrandsAmbassy]

The proof of this documentary been misleading is that I am originally from Bouke which is not a Muslism town although its has many Muslism...the Baoule who the main ethnic group are in majority animist then "Christians".

[@bucunzi]

i wouldnt call silly,if it wasnt by them we wouldnt know many things that happens in the world big up for journalists

[@FionaGoggins]

@ahachie having lived in the Ivory Coast for the last 5 months I've gotta say kwamesei has a point. Esteemed reporter he may be, but entirely accurate he is not.

[@lilsabin]

Even if gbagbo and Nzueba are responsible for dat , am still deceived by the reaction of the citizen , i never tought ivorian could be that dumb , how can u wake up one morning and start telling ur neighboor with who u have almost shared everything for years that he s a stranger ( because of his last name ) and that he s the reason why u living in misery , human being will never learn , we are doomed to remain dumb...

[@1nnocentDeviL]

not enough thinkers :(

[@gangsterchronicle]

@hexcane i agree with you on most of these points but i have to disagree on the issue of south africa and zimbabwe. The retribution brought upon the white farmers by the indigenous black citizens may have been abhorrent on moral grounds, but the historical pretext of rampant racist abuse made it an inevitability. The atrocities committed under apartheid are far from ancient history; the resultant backlash against what was ostensibly a mix of guilty and innocent whites merely constitutes a

[@Corinnenandre]

@gripcontrol oh wow.. and Alassane calls himself an ivorian but what has he done for the north or his region.. i don't see him developing his region.. if u say ur from a certain part of a country shouldnt you help your people from that part.. he has a lot of money.and wasnt he the one who fled to the french embassy when they was the conflict in cote d'ivoire.. that the kind of person we want to be our president... wow.. i know he graduated from harvard in the us.he needs to help his people more

[@KingJamel]

I feel you brother, ethnic differences and tribal conflict is destroying our continent and specially C.I, Ivoiriens are selfish and very stupic plain and simple... your situation is so popular there and has been for a very long time... I hate this neoracism crap.. we blacks hate each other reason why we'll never advance in society and we'll always occupy the bottom spot. peace

[@BrandsAmbassy]

The main and most opponents of the rebels in the government are from the North and are Muslims Sangare and Mamadou Coulibaly...the leader of the rebelion although is from the the North is Christian Soro Guillaume...so how do you guys buy into that nonsense? Yeah some who wanted to take advantage to sort out some personal issues jumped in to that opportunity but the real problem was from the French Government. to be continued

[@malikasilla1475]

In the Ivory Coast there are even more muslims than Christians. Uff at least make sure you don´t lie about such things that can be easily found.

[@TheRealDesiCNEC]

I lived in this nation during the time of this documentary and saw mobs butcher people with machetes

[@Corinnenandre]

@gripcontrol excuse me?? Bedie was the one who started the whole ivoirite concept.. gbagbo didnt do anything...

[@lilsabin]

lol , dude , u dinne get me , but i understood what u said , and i am not talking about recent immigrant here , dude , i am talking about poeple who "immigrated " in IVORY COAST before its independancy , dude did u know that burkina faso and ivory coast was the same country many years ago (haute volta et basse volta) , and when they separated , some people where kinda mixed in it , for exemple my grand father found himself in ivory coast and the rest of his familly were in burkina faso...

[@thejonesbunch]

@BedRoomGangster It is twice i read your posts. "if only africans had the brains to reason...." very well spoken.

[@Ancientafrica]

@kickitable Mandigo, Fula, Soso, Fanti, Shanti, etc are not Liberian tribes. These people live in Liberia today but are not native; which will eventually become problem. Kpelle is not a tribe of Nigeria, SouthAfrica, etc. All African tribes have their native places and are not from everywhere. Border tribes are split because of Europe but those tribes still maintain their identities. The problem is less a white man but more of our unorderly ways of doing things (orderly migration is better)

[@bahenadodgers]

why can't they put stupid religion aside and come together for the purpose of a country.

[@ggjones2517]

@Ancientafrica thats rite you work the the land u have!

[@lillyjoker12]

Thank you Kickitable!!! les ignorants nous insultent!! mais ils connaissent po la vrai histoire!!! tchrrrrrrrrr

[@lilsabin]

@KingJamel Not false , but it can occur to anybody , it just take a good alibie , for exemple the gherman during ww2

[@RaptorOfTheWest]

@hexcane Not really whites are justas racist as blacks, asians, etc. No race is "more racist" than another. But a person can be more racist than another.

[@sirwallaby]

@throbule Christianity Moved to egypt shortly after christ death followed by north sudan,It never reached North africa till the romans introduced it at a later date (few hundred years later) ,Christianity was introduced into ethiopia and eritrea in the 4th century ad and thats about it,somalia was never christian not any other country in africa till colonisation in the 15th century..so percentage wise islam reached far way more africans before christianity unless you object with the statistics.

[@sirwallaby]

@throbule Christianity reached only few kingdoms of noba in north sudan,as you would know it there was 5 kingdoms in what was kush and only 2 took christianity,i should know because this is my area buddy,and even then their christianity was mixed with animist and you wouldn't call it christianity today,christianity never set foot in somalia you can ask somali's about that they would love to lecture you about this fact,and to debunk ur theory didn't paul move to europe and spread paulism there?

[@promi5e]

@sartte That is because the blind can not see. True Islamists or Christians would never shed the blood of there Abrahamic brothers. This and all conflict is a result of the Adversary and it's company of agents.

[@afroguard]

@hexcane Please take ur parochial thoughts 2 a neo nazi meetin. What u fail 2 realise is that most African 'countries' were wrongly drawn up by Europeans durin colonisation. Europeans failed 2 take on board the visible difference in cultures and traditions and as such what we have had over the years is civil wars and violence.

[@objordan9]

this guy clearly dont no what is talking about looooool hes just gassing everyone up on here

[@LiberianGbanna]

@fran21ish Certainly!

[@lionras5258]

❤ Os-co

[@schattenfaust]

@MsAlternativexxx Agreed all the way my friend.

[@sidneo14]

:) watch?v=QHZ3BRpqpPE anyway all this is finished .btw born and raised .you should learn to stop making assumptions on partial infos a profile location does not indicate country of origin. bon courage on a plus besoin de paroles de haine en CI

[@solomonosemeke2761]

Smh

[@sartte]

All i see is Islam Vs. Christianity.

[@lilwaynerule1]

Im african illnever do voodoO ONLY JESUS CHRIST MY LORD!

[@krakca]

@BedRoomGangster lol, not where i live, and it will never happen here.

[@curtisneilson5829]

There is a semi civilization at best

[@sartte]

@kickitable not all Islam is the cause for mst of them also.

[@29franceska]

LES jaloux vont maigri ce soit disant ALAsane n'es t pas ivoirien therefore he will not be the president of ivory coast haters! et ke la france ce mele de ses oignons assailant la

[@junkrat1]

6th add in a row -.-

[@TwoWheelWarrior]

Kewlios

[@PeterNgola]

A reminder of Christian dominance??? Is he Serious??? He seemed to have an attitude when he said that.

[@BHJ225]

He forgot to say there was also a big mosque just the opposite, built by the same Christian president. Also Bouake wasn't mainly Muslim originally 🙄