Thabo Mbeki tries to resolve political turmoil in Ivory Coast

Former South African president steps in as rival candidates claim
presidency following disputed election

Associated Press
Monday December 6 2010
The Guardian


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/05/thabo-mbeki-ivory-coast-election


The former South African president Thabo Mbeki tried to mediate in
Ivory Coast's growing political crisis today as hundreds of people
protested in the north of the country a day after both candidates in
the disputed election said they were president.

In the opposition stronghold of Bouake, several hundred people marched
down a main street to call for the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, to stand
down.

They chanted: "Gbagbo, thief!" and carried signs including one that
read: "Ten years in power, nothing good."

The international community has recognised the opposition leader,
Alassane Ouattara, as the winner of the presidential run-off vote,
held a week ago.

That, however, did not stop Gbagbo from defying calls to concede.
Yesterday, he wrapped himself in the Ivorian flag as he was sworn in
for another term at the presidential palace.

Hours later, Ouattara told reporters that he, too, had been sworn in
to office.

The development effectively set up parallel governments and raised
serious questions about who was actually in charge of Ivory Coast,
which was split into two by a civil war eight years ago.

Despite Ouattara's international support, Gbagbo holds many key
elements of power including the army and the state media.

"The risk of violence between supporters of the two parties, as well
as repression by Ivorian security forces against real or perceived
supporters of Ouattara, is very high," Corinne Dufka, the senior West
Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said.

Mbeke arrived in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, according to aides
for both candidates. He met Gbagbo at his residence on Saturday
afternoon, Augustin Gehoum, a Gbagbo aide, said.

At his swearing-in, Gbagbo repeated allegations that his supporters
had been intimidated in the north, repeating the rationale used by the
country's constitutional council to throw out 500,000 ballots cast in
Ouattara strongholds.

"You think that you can cheat, stuff ballot boxes and intimidate
voters and that the other side won't see what is going on," Gbagbo
said.

Ivory Coast's long-awaited election had been meant to restore
stability to what was once one of the most affluent countries in
Africa. Instead, it has cast a growing shadow.

Gbagbo says he is the rightful winner of the run-off vote, citing the
Ivorian constitution. It gives ultimate authority on the issue to the
country's constitutional council, which declared him the winner.

However, Ouattara points to the 2007 peace deal which states that the
UN must certify the election results. The UN maintains that the vote
was credible, and that Ouattara won.

Ivory Coast was placed on lockdown immediately after the commission
announced Ouattara's win on Thursday, with a decree read on state TV
saying the nation's air and land borders had been closed.

However, borders remained open in the country's north, and residents
there were not observing the nationwide curfew.


guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2010

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