Côte d'Ivoire
International community demands new election

afrol.com, 30 October - Leading voices from the international community, most notably the US, the OAU, UN Secretary-General Annan, Nigerian President Obasanjo and the South African President Mbeki, are all calling for a repetition of the controversial presidential poll that brought Gbagbo to power in Côte d'Ivoire.

The situation in Abidjan and other Ivorian localities is calm but tense after the violent clashes between supporters of the new President, Laurent Gbagbo, and supporters of former Prime
Minister Alassane Ouattara, leader of the Rally for Republicans (RDR), which had been barred from participating in the elections one week ago. Reports claim that up to 200 people lost their lives in the clashes and several Churches and Mosques were set alight, by a mob that also turned more and more xenophobic. 

Talks between Gbagbo and Ouattara have not resulted in any political solution - however their appeals to their supporters contributed in ending the violent clashes. Gbagbo, in an effort to meet with the requirements of the international community and the opposition, has named a Government of National Unity. With 18 of the 23 cabinet ministers being from his own party, this has not impressed his opponents. Ouattara thus keeps calling for a new election, as does the international community. The calls are based on the fact that only one third of the electorate participated in the election after the main opposition parties had called for a boycott.

South Africa and Nigeria
Presidents Mbeki of South Africa and Obasanjo from Nigeria yesterday reaffirmed the call from the OAU for a "politically inclusive" poll, meaning a call for new elections. In a joint statement, the two Presidents noted that the principles outlined by the OAU to Ivorian ex-President General Guei prior to the poll, had "so far not been heeded. Among other things, this resulted in the exclusion of many candidates and parties from the recent Presidential elections. This effectively de-legitimised the election, resulting in only about a third of the electorate participating in the elections." 

The Presidents also said they considered that "the interests of the Ivorian people, can best be served through the holding of fresh presidential elections, at a date agreed upon by all the parties." In the meantime, Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo called for the establishment of a representative transitional government of national unity, whose tasks would be to address further constitutional matters, including, problems affecting the security forces and the holding of inclusive Presidential and Legislative Assembly elections.

Both Presidents said they were "convinced that this approach will lead to a durable peace and stability in a democratic Côte d'Ivoire."

The statement of the two Presidents is very much in line with statements made by the US, the OAU and UN Secretary-General Annan. Gbagbo can, however, note the support from Côte d'Ivoire's old colonial power and main ally, France - a move no to be underplayed in Ivorian politics.

Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2000    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com