Human Rights Watch have accused both parties to Ivory Coast’s unrest after elections of war crimes.
Military leaders, including those under the command of President Alassane Ouattara, are said to have executed civilians and raped women during the violence.

The government’s failure to charge those loyal to Ouattara over the crimes set the stage for ‘victor’s justice’, said HRW.

The four military leaders loyal to Ouattara are still in active service and one has been promoted by the President as second-in-command for presidential security.

"What looks to be right now one-sided or victor's justice, is a real threat to the reconciliation that the country is trying to go through right now. It is only through impartial justice that the country will move forward from this most recent state of violence and re-establish the rule of law," Human Rights Watch representative Matt Wells said.

Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch stated

"The Ouattara government has taken noteworthy steps to prosecute leaders of the former regime, including Gbagbo himself, against whom there is credible evidence of serious crimes. But the pursuit of justice is essential to victims on both sides who saw their loved ones killed, or houses burned, not just a tool for the victors."

Prosecutors in Ivory Coast have brought charges against 118 loyalists of former President Gbagbo, whose loss at the election triggered the violence, but they are yet to bring charges against any supporters of President Ouattara.

See our previous article:

ICC allows Ivory Coast investigation (Oct 2011)