Un psychiatre face à la violence raciale : opération Licorne en Côte-d’Ivoire

Abstract

On November 6, 2004, an aerial bombardment killed nine French soldiers of the "Licorne" operation in Ivory Coast and caused many casualties. In response the French army destroyed the national aviation of Ivory Coast responsible for this attack. The city of Abidjan flared up immediately. Expatriates became targets. Two psychiatrists were called in immediately. One provided a medico-psychological assistance in the military camp of Port-Bouët, where runaway expatriates were regrouped. The intensity of the shock due to the aggressive behaviour of people lived with peacefully until then was shown by a particular psychopathology, both individual and collective. All wanted to escape from the chaos and wanted to leave immediately; but seats in planes were limited. For ten days violence erupted everywhere, outside as well as inside. Military personnel were also facing racial violence. Therefore the psychiatrist facing many requests had to keep control of his/her actions. In conditions of insecurity a clear medical environment must be safeguarded to allow the psychiatrist to work, to protect him/herself and to extract disoriented victims from the horror endured.