What is the security situation like on the ground?

Compounding this frustration is the fact that insecurity is still rampant, particularly in the west and north, and incidents are rarely investigated by the authorities. Thousands of internally displaced people are unable to return to their homes out of fear of being attacked by bandits, traditional dozo hunters, Liberian mercenaries, or Burkinabé militias operating along the border. Moreover, the government has not succeeded in effectively disarming and reintegrating ex-combatants from both sides, which has resulted in a persistent flow of small weapons and light arms throughout the country. In addition, the security forces themselves often act with impunity, exacting bribes from drivers and intimidating those who refuse to pay. Combined, these elements have all contributed to the ongoing climate of instability and division along political and ethnic lines.

How has the country's economic progress affected the population?

Although Côte d'Ivoire has experienced significant growth since the end of the crisis, much of the progress is concentrated in the economic capital of Abidjan, whose port, airport, and roads are all relatively well-maintained. Much of the rest of the country, with the exception of a handful of towns, remains impoverished and has not benefited from the government's 2012-2015 national development plan. Major urban centers in the west, such as Duékoué, have still not recovered from the crisis: basic amenities such as electricity and running water are scarce; and many people, including community leaders and traditional chiefs, find themselves sleeping on the ground and unable to eat more than once a day.

What's in store for Côte d'Ivoire?

With presidential elections slated for 2015, there is the risk that these simmering tensions and feelings of abandonment, if not thoroughly and quickly addressed, could once again spiral out of control and threaten the country's recovery. While the advances made under President Ouattara should not be dismissed, the path to lasting reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire is still long.

This post is part of a collaboration between The Atlantic and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.