The non-respect by Côte d’Ivoire of some fundamental human rights norms and principles pertaining notably to equality and non-discrimination, the right to a nationality plunged the country into an armed conflict. The crisis kick-started on 19 September 2002 by an armed rebellion which resulted in grave violations and in the de facto division of the country into two zones: the north, controlled by the Forces nouvelles, led by Guillaume Kigbafori Soro, and the south by the legitimate government of President Gbagbo. After several unsuccessful peace deals, the signing of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement on 4 March 2007 by the conflicting parties defused the tension, thus fostering an appeased political climate conducive to the organization of elections.
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