The 2010–11 Ivorian crisis was a political crisis in Ivory Coast which began after Laurent Gbagbo, the President of Ivory Coast since 2000, was proclaimed the winner of the Ivorian election of 2010, the first election in the country in 10 years. The opposition candidate, Alassane Ouattara a former employee of the IMF, and several other leaders from around the World claimed Ouattara had won the election. After months of attempted negotiations and sporadic violence, the crisis entered a decisive stage as Ouattara's forces began a military offensive in which they quickly gained control of most of the country and besieged key targets in Abidjan, the country's largest city. International organizations reported numerous human rights violations, and the UN undertook its own military action with the stated objective of protecting itself and civilians. A significant step in bringing an end to the crisis occurred on 11 April 2011 upon the capture and arrest of Gbagbo in Abidjan by pro-Ouattara forces backed by French forces.
These photos were taken during an MSF relief mission in 2011 for the internally displaced population.
© Daniel Botelho
