Inauguration of two memorials in Abidjan for victims of the 2010-2011 post-election crisis

A duty to remember an important event in Ivorian history

On April 11, 2025, Côte d’Ivoire commemorated 14 years since the end of the 2010-2011 post-electoral crisis, marked by the arrest of former president Laurent Gbagbo. Refusing to cede power to Alassane Ouattara, declared winner of the November 2010 presidential election, this crisis plunged the country into five months of violence, officially resulting in 3,000 deaths and the rape of more than 150 women.

Two memorial sites unveiled in Abidjan

In Abidjan, two memorials were inaugurated on April 11, symbolizing recognition of the suffering endured by the victims.

• The first memorial, at Anador in the Abobo commune, pays tribute to seven women killed in March 2011 during a demonstration in support of Alassane Ouattara.
• The second, in Yopougon Yaho Sehi, honors the victims of the crisis in this hard-hit neighborhood.

These works, by Ivorian artists, aim to pass on the memory to future generations.

A desire for appeasement, but also expectations of justice

At the inauguration, Madelaine Gozé, representing the victims, stressed the importance of these memorials for the duty of remembrance:

“These works tell our children what happened. They make us feel better. […] We are appealing so that what happened never happens again.”

However, the victims expect more than symbols. Many of them, like Mamadou Koné, wounded by a stray bullet and now disabled, are calling for concrete reparations.

Government action underway, but deemed insufficient

The Minister of Solidarity, Myss Belmonde Dogo, affirms that the State has put in place several initiatives:

• Medical care
• Tutoring
• Financing income-generating projects

Despite this, victims feel that efforts need to be stepped up to fully meet their expectations.

Four other memorials planned for the interior of the country

The remembrance process continues: four new memorials are due to be erected in the coming months, notably in Duékoué, a town in the west of the country that was severely affected during the crisis.

Conclusion

The April 11 commemoration in Abidjan, marked by the inauguration of two memorials, testifies to the willingness of the Ivorian authorities to acknowledge the suffering associated with the 2010-2011 post-election crisis. While these symbolic gestures are welcomed, the expectations of the victims remain high, particularly in terms of reparation and justice. Remembrance alone is not enough: it must be accompanied by concrete actions to heal the wounds of a past that is still painful. in concrete actions, restoring hope and dignity to thousands of Cameroonians.