Threat of renewed civil war after Ivory Coast election

By Ann Talbot

13 December 2010

The West African country of Ivory Coast remains without a functioning government, after both contenders in the November elections claimed victory. Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, who is backed by the army, has refused to concede power to his rival, Alassane Outtara.

Tensions are increasing in the former French colony, which remains under curfew. Markets and shops are running out of essential supplies of food and fuel. A number of people have already been killed in sporadic outbreaks of violence. There is talk of a “Rwandization” of Ivory Coast if the stand off continues and the country descends into civil war as it did in 2002.

Any deterioration of the situation in Ivory Coast would have serious implications for the region. Sierra Leone and Liberia both recently went through civil wars and Western military intervention. Neighbouring Guinea remains tense despite the recent election. Nigeria, the economic giant of the region, has deep seated problems in the Delta region and the North.

“West Africa is just getting out of this miasma of bloodshed. We don’t want to go back to that situation,” said an aide to Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s president.

The Financial Times has called for an African solution to an African problem. But in fact France and other Western powers are primarily responsible for the emergence of the present crisis and the threat of further violence.
The United Nations Security Council has recognised Outtara’s claim to the presidency. Russia was reluctant to accede to the Security Council resolution because it is in the process of negotiating off-shore oil deals with Gbagbo. But it has now fallen in line with the United States and France, which have both recognised Outtara.

This decision doubtless reflects behind the scenes deals about the division of Ivory Coast’s considerable natural resources.

France brutally reasserted its colonial control over Ivory Coast in 2004, when it destroyed the entire Ivorian air force and seized the airport at Abidjan. French helicopters attacked crowds of people attempting to cross the bridges that lead from the working class districts of the city to the airport. French gun-boats took up positions under the bridges.
The US and the UN welcomed this naked display of imperialist violence. The Security Council passed a resolution retrospectively allowing France to use “all necessary means” to suppress the Ivorian population.

There are still 10,000 foreign troops in Ivory Coast, under UN mandate, in addition to 900 French troops under separate command who are pledged to back the UN force if necessary. UN troops are currently protecting Outtara and his government, who have based themselves in an Abidjan hotel. Gbagbo retains control of the presidential palace with the support of the Ivorian army.

Under pressure from the US, the African Union has suspended Ivory Coast from membership and refused to recognise Gbagbo. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has done likewise. It is possible that ECOWAS will impose economic sanctions if Gbagbo does not step down. President Obama has written to Gbagbo hinting at sanctions. The International Monetary Fund has recognised Outtara as president and has refused to extend further aid to the country until Gbagbo goes.

Outtara is a former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund and studied economics in the US. His identification with the freemarket policies of the IMF makes him the ideal candidate for Western interests. Under an IMF structural adjustment programme Ivory Coast has privatised utilities and cut welfare subsidies. Telecommunications, transport, electricity and water supplies have all been privatised. By the beginning of 2009 it was estimated that more than half the population lived on less than a euro, or just over a dollar, a day. In the countryside some 60 percent of the population are classified as poor. This represents a rapid increase since the imposition of the IMF measures. Life expectancy is only 56 years.

Gbagbo has played his part in implementing these policies. A former trade union leader, he has close connections with Lionel Jospin and the French Socialist Party. When he excluded Outtara from a previous election, the French government nonetheless recognised his claim to power.

For several decades after independence in 1960, Ivory Coast was relatively prosperous by the standards of the region and had a comparatively well developed infrastructure. With the imposition of IMF measures and the collapse of commodity prices, that all changed. The Ivorian elite began to exploit ethnic and communal divisions as competition for declining revenues became fierce.

These ethnic and communal conflicts are the legacy of French colonialism. France created an independent Ivory Coast out of the larger colony of French West Africa. It was a predominantly Christian country with a thriving cocoa industry. Citizens of poorer Muslim states nearby had little choice but to migrate to Ivory Coast in search of work. There they were subjected to discrimination and second class status.
Gbagbo has whipped up ethnic and religious hostility to Outtara, who is a Muslim from the North of the country. He claims that Outtara is not really an Ivorian and has no right to stand in elections. He has suggested that Outtara’s campaign in the latest elections was funded by President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, raising fears of Muslim domination.

Since 2007 the country has been divided along a peace line that separates north and south and is monitored by the UN force. The aim of the election that was funded by the UN and the European Union was to reunify the country, allowing more effective access to Ivory Coast’s resources. It is the largest producer of cocoa in the world and the third largest producer of coffee. It has, in addition, supplies of minerals and timber.
Gbagbo is pressing for a power-sharing government that would allow him to remain in power with some ministers from the north in junior positions. But the US and Europe are unwilling to countenance such a scheme because of their experience in Zimbabwe and Kenya, where power-sharing has proved to be unsatisfactory and has not provided a secure environment in which foreign companies can operate profitably.

The situation that exists in Ivory Coast and is increasingly evident across the African continent is evidence of the inability of capitalism to create the conditions for peaceful development in the semi-colonial world. Even when global trade was expanding, Africa was being driven deeper into poverty. In the wake of the world financial crisis the continent is left in an even more vulnerable position as the competition for natural resources sharpens.


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/dec2010/ivor-d13.shtml

The Europeans really haven't left Africa. Only a fool would deny this. The British, the French, and the Portuguese continue to play a role in most African states. That is why I am not surprised that behind the scenes, the French and the rest of the West may be playing a role in the Ivory Coast.

In addition, the structural adjustment programs created by the World Bank/IMF are pure evil if you ask me. When African states implemented these policies, Africa became a lot poorer. The West does not have Africa's best interest at heart. They just want to steal from our beloved continent as they have been doing so for centuries. And we Africans have not awaken to this fact. It is a shame and it also makes me sick.

What happen to our revolutionary leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabaral, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere etc?

Ochi_Agha:

The Europeans really haven't left Africa. Only a fool would deny this. The British, the French, and the Portuguese continue to play a role in most African states. That is why I am not surprised that behind the scenes, the French and the rest of the West may be playing a role in the Ivory Coast.

In addition, the structural adjustment programs created by the World Bank/IMF are pure evil if you ask me. When African states implemented these policies, Africa became a lot poorer. The West does not have Africa's best interest at heart. They just want to steal from our beloved continent as they have been doing so for centuries. And we Africans have not awaken to this fact. It is a shame and it also makes me sick.

What happen to our revolutionary leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabaral, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere etc?

Are European states such as Spain, Greece, Ireland, UK, and Portugal not implementing SAP at the moment?

Katsumoto:

Are European states such as Spain, Greece, Ireland, UK, and Portugal not implementing SAP at the moment?

European countries are given lower interest rates, than the rates received in Africa. The reason why many African states have not progressed is due to the fact of the overwhelming debt that they have to pay. No one likes to discuss this issue.

Just look at the conditionalities given to most African states during the late 80s and early 90s. It is amazing, how African states were forced to follow these conditions.

Africa needs to understand that countries always act in their own interest first and foremost.

As we speak the country Ivory Coast is split into two with UN troops manning the border between North and South.

Why they can't make this border official and split the country into two is the question that we as Africans need to be asking.

In whose interest is it to keep a non-viable country as one when they could easily split and go their seperate ways?

Perhaps foreign mining firms who don't want to have to renegotiate mining rights with new entities.

What EXACTLY is it that makes the West opposed to splitting former colonial countries (whether Iraq of Africa) whilst promoting the balkanisation of Yugoslavia and other European countries?

It was in their interest to split Sudan and capitalise on the new oilfields in Southern Sudan as China controls Northern Sudan.

The African Union needs to put this issue on the frontburner of the UN.

How come no single African country has split since the end of colonialism?

In as much as it seems the blame will go to Western interests, my problem with this stand-off is innocent citizens will die for something that is senseless. Gbagbo can play the victim or the freedom fighter but again he has being President since 2000, Is that not enough? We need strong leaders in Africa who can unite people and grow the economy rather we have leaders who stir up ethnic and religious violence to achieve their agenda. My prayers are with them.

kcjazz:

In as much as it seems the blame will go to Western interests, my problem with this stand-off is innocent citizens will die for something that is senseless. Gbagbo can play the victim or the freedom fighter but again he has being President since 2000, Is that not enough? We need strong leaders in Africa who can unite people and grow the economy rather we have leaders who stir up ethnic and religious violence to achieve their agenda. My prayers are with them.

We all know African leaders have a hard time giving up power. Even our independence leaders had a hard time giving up power from Julius Nyerere to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. However, I do no think Cote D'ivoire should even be a nation. The North and the South seems to always be at odds with each other. Houphouët-Boigny really kept that nation together. I remember when the Cote D'ivoire used to be a shining beacon for West Africa. It had good infrastructure and a booming economy. With the death of Houphouët-Boigny, the nation has not progressed.

quoting Kcjazz

In as much as it seems the blame will go to Western interests, my problem with this stand-off is innocent citizens will die for something that is senseless. Gbagbo can play the victim or the freedom fighter but again he has being President since 2000, Is that not enough? We need strong leaders  in Africa who can unite people and grow the economy rather we have leaders who stir up ethnic and religious violence to achieve their agenda. My prayers are with them.

kcjazz, a lot of countries allows the leader to countinue in power whenever there is a war going on, even the Usa gave F. Roosevelt 4 terms because the country needed stability at that point. If the UN were sincere they should have insisted that the rebels disarm totally before any election take place in the CIV, this was part of the 2006 agreement which the UN and the parties agreed to but the UN made sure Gbagbo and his allies kept to their part but the rebels never kept to any deadline. If Quattara gets into power you will see alot of rebels movements from people who loss elections in Africa. People like Atiku is watching out to see the outcome of this, If Quattara is agrieved he should go to the CIV court not to his personal friend sarkosy.

Ochi_Agha said:

The Europeans really haven't left Africa. Only a fool would deny this. The British, the French, and the Portuguese continue to play a role in most African states. That is why I am not surprised that behind the scenes, the French and the rest of the West may be playing a role in the Ivory Coast.

In addition, the structural adjustment programs created by the World Bank/IMF are pure evil if you ask me. When African states implemented these policies, Africa became a lot poorer. The West does not have Africa's best interest at heart. They just want to steal from our beloved continent as they have been doing so for centuries. And we Africans have not awaken to this fact. It is a shame and it also makes me sick.

What happened to our revolutionary leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabaral, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere etc?

My brother, they were all either eliminated or otherwise severely constrained by the imperialists!! The next generation of leaders were too intimidated to tow their progressive line. It became conventional wisdom among them to play stooge.

The Europeans really haven't left Africa. Only a fool would deny this. The British, the French, and the Portuguese continue to play a role in most African states. That is why I am not surprised that behind the scenes, the French and the rest of the West may be playing a role in the Ivory Coast.

In addition, the structural adjustment programs created by the World Bank/IMF are pure evil if you ask me. When African states implemented these policies, Africa became a lot poorer. The West does not have Africa's best interest at heart. They just want to steal from our beloved continent as they have been doing so for centuries. And we Africans have not awaken to this fact. It is a shame and it also makes me sick.

What happen to our revolutionary leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabaral, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere etc?

This!

We blame d west 4 problems we caused

ikennahill:

We blame d west 4 problems we caused

And what mess have we caused that didn't have the West fingerprints involved? These states that they arbitrarily made without considering the ethnic groups that reside in this region, is one main source of this contention. And the fact that we Africans have kept these borders is another problem. Sorry, but the West is the cause for most of the WORLD's problems. Not only in Africa. Seems like people need to understand the International System that we find ourselves in.

ochi agha
china get a lot of ethnic tribes but they are organized

the west can be blamed but na them tell gbagbo not to leave after he failed

ikennahill:

ochi agha
china get a lot of ethnic tribes but they are organized

the west can be blamed but na them tell gbagbo not to leave after he failed

Actually you are wrong. China do have other ethnic groups, but the Han make up between 75-80% of the country. That is a very clear majority if you ask me. And no one ever hears about the minority ethnic groups in China, because they do not really have much of a say. Just ask the Tibetans and the Uighurs of Western China.

The West needs to learn how to stay out of other nation's sovereignty.

D bottom line is dt gbagbo must leave.he hv bn dia since 2001,he want 2 stay dia 4eva?ecomog shd smoke hm out

Sorry but if the Ivory Coast Constitution permits him to run for president ad infinitum, it is not your place to say he ''must leave''.

Have you asked Mubarak to ''leave'' after leading Egypt for 30 years?

I bet you don't even think about that. Why? Because the west has not used their media power to make you think about it. Why? Because Mubarak is their ''ally''.

Fact is the Ivory Coast Constitution permits the Constitutional Council to void rigged polls, which it did. End of story. Everyone should BACK OFF and leave the Ivoriens to sort out their problem.

Sorry but if the Ivory Coast Constitution permits him to run for president ad infinitum, it is not your place to say he ''must leave''.

Have you asked Mubarak to ''leave'' after leading Egypt for 30 years?

I bet you don't even think about that. Why? Because the west has not used their media power to make you think about it. Why? Because Mubarak is their ''ally''.

Fact is the Ivory Coast Constitution permits the Constitutional Council to void rigged polls, which it did. End of story. Everyone should BACK OFF and leave the Ivoriens to sort out their problem.

So, the constitution even allows him(Gbagbo) to run for presidency ad infinitum yet he prefers his country go up in flames rather than step down and run again after Outtara's has served his term,  or did the constitution also allows Gbagbo to steal the presidency "ad infinitum"? I dont think so. Hence,I too say ECOMOG should smoke Gbagbo out, if he refuses to hand over power to Outtara.

I wont allow myself to be blinded by sentiments on the Ivorian crisis even though my sympathy lies with the mostly christian south where Gbagbo has majority support. I am pretty sure, if Gbagbo were a Northern Ivorian muslim and Outtarra a Southern Ivorian Christain, by now this thread would be flooded with criticism of Gbagbo, because most political discourse here in NL are clouded by religion, tribal and North-vs-South sentiments. We Africans are fond of criticizing the West for playing double-standard in Africa, while our double standards against our fellow African brethrens know no bound.

The whole world know Gbagbo lost the elections. If he had done a good Job of promoting peace and unity in that country for the 10 years he had been in power, he would have won. His scorch earth tactics of trying to remain in power at all cost has backfired this time. He deserves no respect any longer and should be kicked out ASAP! Because some African leaders have been getting away with hanging on to power even after they lost elections, is no justification for him to do thesame. Whether  Mubarak is getting away with it because he is a darling of the West is no justification either.  Sure, the west are not to be trusted, but it is no reason for Africans to turn blind eye to the chicaneries of  power hungry leaders who want to remain in power at all cost. 

Corrupt African leaders blame the west for everything whenever their luck runs out.  So, its no surprise that Gbagbo and his supporters are now playing the anti-western card. For Africa to progress, something has to  be done to stem the growing rate of African leaders who refuse to relinquish power despite losing elections,  and Im glad that ECOWAS is leading the way in this regard.  Ecowas decision to use military force on Gbagbo  is welcome by majority of Africans from all over the world. Other African regional blocks are already discussing reforms on how to emulate ECOWAS. Today, I am most proud to be a West African, and above all, a Nigerian.

ECOMOG, abeg if una catch dat rogue make una pour hot charcoal for e yansh

Gbagbos term as president ended 5 years ago, but somehow he's still there today disputing election results.
Na who de drive NNS Aradu sef? Abeg, work de Ivory Coast!

Na who de drive NNS Aradu sef? Abeg, work de Ivory Coast!

All this yeye Nigerian making mouth say make they send or army their sef!!! Do you know how many soldier died in Liberia? or sierra leone? Go to most of our barrack they are full of civilians, most of our figures of soldiers they give you are forged so they go chop ghost worker salary. make france and america go fight for their oil and see if chinese and russian wouldn't arm Cote d'iviore openly. For those of you saying Gbagbo has ruled for ten years are wrong they rebels and him have been sharing power since 2005 and they have had say in every decision, please you guy should not be so sterotypical in your thinking, "just because nah africa im means say nah sit thight leader". Was Rosevelt that did 4 terms a sit tight leader? it was because they nation was at war. A lot of experts warned UN about conducting an election in a country were rebels are still armed but they refused, nah dat period mumu Goodluck for put mouth but im no talk.

And the question that still keeps begging for answers is: what are the youth doing?
From Egypt to Zimbabwe, Gambia, Senegal, we are being governed by Octogenarians & Septugenarians who have lost touch with reality.
The West will keep dictating to us because our rulers are feeble, weak and lack the dynamism to lead a modern country?
Find out d ages of Obama, Sarkozy, Medvedev, Cameron et al.

The Nigerian embassy in Cote d’Ivoire was attacked.

superboi:

quoting Kcjazzkcjazz, a lot of countries allows the leader to countinue in power whenever there is a war going on, even the Usa gave F. Roosevelt 4 terms because the country needed stability at that point. If the UN were sincere they should have insisted that the rebels disarm totally before any election take place in the CIV, this was part of the 2006 agreement which the UN and the parties agreed to but the UN made sure Gbagbo and his allies kept to their part but the rebels never kept to any deadline. If Quattara gets into power you will see alot of rebels movements from people who loss elections in Africa. People like Atiku is watching out to see the outcome of this, If Quattara is agrieved he should go to the CIV court not to his personal friend sarkosy.

I agree with you totally. The elections were rushed, no thanks to pressure from the international community. When normalcy returned to CIV after the last conflict, a spelt out plan or a roadmap was drawn and chief on that list was the DDR(Disarmament, Demoblisation and Reunification). The DDR was not even close to being complete as at when the elections were held. The elections were held moreorless in a state of anarchy and what we are seeing now is inevitable if you put everything into context. It would have been the same outcame if Gbagbo had won

The British and the Dutch can dare touch RSA. We tell them what we think without any fear or favour. The US onced labelled us a problem child, because we refuse 2 be bullied.

The British and the Dutch cannot dare touch RSA. We tell them what we think without any fear or favour. The US onced labelled us a problem child, because we refuse 2 be bullied.

Thousands of Nigerians in Ivory Coast are now living in fear. If ECOWAS attack Ivory Coast they fear revenge killings against the Nigerian community in Ivory Coast. Hundreds of Nigerians living in Abidjan already received death threats. I thing a military action is a very bad option and will lead to a civil war with thousands of dead including Nigerians living in Ivory Coast.

Horus:

Thousands of Nigerians in Ivory Coast are now living in fear. If ECOWAS attack Ivory Coast they fear revenge killings against the Nigerian community in Ivory Coast. Hundreds of Nigerians living in Abidjan already received death threats. I thing a military action is a very bad option and will lead to a civil war with thousands of dead including Nigerians living in Ivory Coast.

That is the more reason the savage called Gbagbo needs to be smoked out. Who are they threatening? Ivory Coast is a country that doesn't even have an airforce, talkless of navy.
Dude, the sight of NNS Aradu would look like the second coming of Jesus to their catapult weilding army.
Kill Nigerians ke! Dreams!

Faeb:

Dude, the sight of NNS Aradu would look like the second coming of Jesus to their catapult weilding army.
Kill Nigerians ke! Dreams!

Horus:

Thousands of Nigerians in Ivory Coast are now living in fear. If ECOWAS attack Ivory Coast they fear revenge killings against the Nigerian community in Ivory Coast. Hundreds of Nigerians living in Abidjan already received death threats. I thing a military action is a very bad option and will lead to a civil war with thousands of dead including Nigerians living in Ivory Coast.

I share your concerns. Nigeria has to consider this carefully. There is a Nigeria fatigue in the sub-region and so Nigerian soldiers will meet with particular hostility. Maybe other African countries should send in troops. I mean, if Ecowas cant' do it without Nigerians, the AU should handle it. We can't bank on the South Africans but The Ethiopian military can overrun Ivory Coast in a matter of hours.

Nigeria should not get involved in Ivory Coast wahala

otokx:

Nigeria should not get involved in Ivory Coast wahala

As the leading ecomog force we are obligated to do so plus we are banking on  asserting our presence in West African affairs once again since this dwindled in after the liberia fiasco and Nigeria has been relatively off the radar since then.

Gbagbo should step down regardless of the constitutionality of his claim to power. The courts are not independent and these guys are playing a power struggle game which has the lives of people at stake. Gbagbo backers are not happy to see a so called "burkinabe" hold seat in power and have been doing everything possible to delay and cling unto power stemming from the Ivorite. Ivory Coast has sufferd enough from the power hungry selfish tribalistic intentions of a few aged men who lack any vision for their countries in the 21st century and simple manipulate laws and rules to further selfish agendas.

If he truly is a man of the people he will think of their welfare first before his. I am in support of forcing him out. Don't relly like Quattra that much but he has proven to serve his people in the past well and seems more enlightened with democratic values and a forward thinking economics background which is why the US seem to be backing him at this time.

Thabo Mbeki did it for the good of his people and country. Why can't any of these other numskulls( ofcourse based on the gurantee that they will not face prosecutions afterwards)

morpheus24:

As the leading ecomog force we are obligated to do so plus we are banking on  asserting our presence in West African affairs once again since this dwindled in after the liberia fiasco and Nigeria has been relatively off the radar since then.

Gbagbo should step down regardless of the constitutionality of his claim to power. The courts are not independent and these guys are playing a power struggle game which has the lives of people at stake. Gbagbo backers are not happy to see a so called "burkinabe" hold seat in power and have been doing everything possible to delay and cling unto power stemming from the Ivorite. Ivory Coast has sufferd enough from the power hungry selfish tribalistic intentions of a few aged men who lack any vision for their countries in the 21st century and simple manipulate laws and rules to further selfish agendas.

If he truly is a man of the people he will think of their welfare first before his. I am in support of forcing him out. Don't relly like Quattra that much but he has proven to serve his people in the past well and seems more enlightened with democratic values and a forward thinking economics background which is why the US seem to be backing him at this time.

Thabo Mbeki did it for the good of his people and country. Why can't any of these other numskulls( ofcourse based on the gurantee that they will not face prosecutions afterwards)

I disagree with you Nigeria has its own problems medlling into this Ivorian issue is a lose lose situation for Nigeria, the UN should not have taken sides, Quatarra could go to court if he believed he won. I don't think Quatarra is even an Ivorian most Ivorians I know detest him no one want a foreigner to rule over them, I'm sure Quatarra is a potential imperialist tool to milk Ivorians of their resources.

tunnytox:

I disagree with you Nigeria has its own problems medlling into this Ivorian issue is a lose lose situation for Nigeria, the UN should not have taken sides, Quatarra could go to court if he believed he won. I don't think Quatarra is even an Ivorian most Ivorians I know detest him no one want a foreigner to rule over them, I'm sure Quatarra is a potential imperialist tool to milk Ivorians of their resources.

How come they never claimed Ouattara was a foreigner for the three years he was their Prime Minister and the one and a half years he was acting president?

Abeg, the Ivorians you know as some of those clam headed ones, I used to have a lovely Ivorian babe for a couple of years. Those people are the most racist and ignorant folk you will ever find in West Africa. All they are about is expensive clothes, real disdain for other people (Anglophone W. Africans etc) and Paris; if you get close enough, you will learn it first hand and they themselves will tell you the same.

The same Gbagbo that is now opportunistically claiming neo-colonialism like a fool was on exile in France from 1982 - 1988. It is interesting how neo-colonialism only started after he lost the elections.

. . .Like I said earlier, send in Aradu, work de Abidjan!