Editing History of Ivory Coast (section)

==First Civil War==
{{Main|First Ivorian Civil War}}On 19 September 2002, a rebellion in the north and the west of Ivory Coast flared up and the country was divided into three parts. Mass murders occurred, notably in Abidjan from 25 to 27 March, when government forces killed more than 200 protesters, and on 20 and 21 June in [[Bouaké]] and Korhogo, where purges led to the execution of more than 100 people. In 2002, [[France]] sent troops to Ivory Coast as [[Peacekeeping|peacekeepers]].  A reconciliation process under international auspices started in 2003. In February 2004, the [[United Nations]] established the [[United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire]] (UNOCI)

Disarmament was supposed to take place on 15 October 2004, but was a failure. Tensions between Ivory Coast and France increased on 6 November 2004, after [[2004 French–Ivorian clashes|Ivorian air strikes killed 9 French peacekeepers and an aid worker]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Somini |date=7 November 2004 |title=Ivory Coast Violence Flares; 9 French and 1 U.S. Death |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/world/africa/ivory-coast-violence-flares-9-french-and-1-us-death.html |access-date=20 September 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In response, French forces attacked the airport at [[Yamoussoukro]], destroying all airplanes in the Ivorian Air Force. Violent protests erupted in both Abidjan and Yamoussoukro and were marked by violence between Ivorians and French peacekeepers.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Carroll |first1=Rory |last2=correspondent |first2=Africa |last3=Henley |first3=Jon |date=8 November 2004 |title=French attack sparks riots in Ivory Coast |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/08/france.westafrica |access-date=20 September 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Thousands of foreigners, especially French nationals, evacuated the two cities. Most of the fighting ended by late 2004, with the country, split between a rebel-held north under the leadership of [[Guillaume Soro]] and a government-held south under the leadership of [[Laurent Gbagbo]].

Under this system, the quality of life dropped overall, with an increase in debt and civil unrest. To answer these problems, the concept of "ivoirité" was born, a racist term targeted denying political and economic rights to the Northern immigrants. In March 2007 the two sides signed an agreement to hold fresh elections. However, the elections were delayed until 2010, five years after Gbagbo's term of office expired.