Ouattara forces 40 km from Côte d'Ivoire capital

Fighting between forces backing the two rival claimants to Côte d’Ivoire’s presidency has broken out in a town 40 kilometres from the capital, Yamoussoukro. And thousands of civilians have fled fighting in the west of the country, rights groups say.

Reuters/Luc Gnago

Fighting with heavy weapons started in Tiébissou during the night, residents said. Forces backing internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara are trying to capture the town, which is a strategic point of access to Yamoussoukro, from supporters of Laurent Gbagbo.

The clashes are part of an offensive by Ouattara’s forces, who have lost patience with diplomatic efforts to persuade Gbagbo to cede power four months after a disputed election.

"All the peaceful routes to lead Laurent Gbagbo to admit his defeat have been exhausted," read a statement issued Tuesday by Ouattara.

The fighting has caused at least 10,000 civilians to seek refuge in the Catholic mission Duékoué, in the far west of the country, according to Amnesty International, which called on the UN to take urgent action to protect them.

The rebel offensive has made a number of gains:

• In the west Duékoué and Daloa have been captured - both are key entry points to cocoa-producing areas and the word’s largest cocoa-exporting port, San Pedro;
• In a push south from the 2002 ceasefire line, Ouattara forces seized four strategic towns;
• In the far east they seized Bondoukau and Abengourou, according to residents.