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As Ivory Coast slowly resumes cocoa exports after a three month hiatus, the legacy of its brutal post-election violence is coming to light. In Yopougon, a suburb of Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan, Losseni Foumba recalls how he organised football matches on a sandy patch of land. With the rains now moving the loose sand, he made a macabre discovery -- the football pitch is now a mass grave.

"The bodies of people who were buried on this soccer pitch were not entombed deep in the earth. They were just covered with sand," Foumbe said.
"Our sons would hit human skulls instead of the soccer ball," he lamented.

"This is where our kids used to imitate their soccer idols and enjoy themselves. Many international Ivorian soccer stars made their debut on this pitch. It's a pity that this place has turned into a cemetery. Now our kids have nowhere to go to have fun," said Seydou Kone, who lives nearby.

From two mass graves in the suburb, over 100 bodies have now been discovered. Relatives who haven't found their loved ones in the displaced persons camps hope they may at least now find their remains.

Last November, Ivory Coast went to the polls to elect a president, in an election already delayed since 2005 due to the civil war, which erupted in 2002.

The election results were disputed, with the international community recognising Alassane Ouattara as the victor, but incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down.

Violence soon became widespread, along ethnic and political lines reminiscent of the civil war fighting, causing mass displacement.

At least 3,000 people were estimated to have been killed in the months of violence that followed, until Gbagbo was arrested and his militias reduced to just a few last pockets of resistance.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the town of Duekoue alone at least 800 people were killed in one, many of them civilians.
As Gbagbo forces were ousted from the area, a mass grave with nearly 200 corpses was discovered in Duekoue, with many of the deaths blamed on Ouattara loyalists.

Gbagbo supporters meanwhile are now being accused of implementing a scorched-earth policy, killing supporters of Ouattara as they retreated in defeat.

"From what I saw, I can say that most of the victims were not fighters as they were not wearing military uniform. They were mere civilians and there were women and children among the victims", said a Yopougon resident, asking for anonymity to speak freely.

Aid workers say they are still trying to figure out who is behind each unlawful death, and human rights groups are becoming more certain both sides committed abuses.

Human Rights Watch has accused Outtara's forces of killing hundreds of civilians, in addition to more than 20 alleged rapes.

The New York-based group has said that Ouattara needs to open investigations into the allegations, which include charges of race-based murders.

Last week, Ouattara was officially sworn in as president, ending the country's legal limbo and placing the high office finally and firmly in his hands.

He has now allowed for the renewal of cocoa exports from the world's largest producer of the crop, to revive the embattled economy. But human rights activists want him to also focus on justice for victims of the civil war and post-election violence.

"Serious human rights violations committed by Laurent Gbagbo and his supporters, as well as those committed by forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, must be tackled and the perpetrators brought to justice," said Veronique Aubert with Amnesty International.

A United Nations-led investigation into abuses is under way.