Dear Saiks,

As to so many who have written both publicly and privately, I say thanks for
your concern about the safety of all of us here in Cote d'Ivoire. On the
issues you raised in you posting, I have the following comments to make:

The reasons behind Ouattara's demand for fresh elections was based on the
fact that he, together with the PDCI candidates were declared ineligible for
various reasons.  As you know, in the case of Ouattara, it was for the
reason that his mother was not Ivorian when the Constitution calls for both
parents being Ivorians.  Ouattara bitterly contests this.  As a result of
his being barred to run, he urged his supporters to boycott the presidential
elections.  PDCI also boycotted the elections because all their nominees
were also declared ineligible by the Constitutional Court.  The RDR and PDCI
are the two biggest political parties as confirmed in the total number of
eligible votes cast on election day; i.e 37.4 per cent.  62.6 per cent of
all eligible voters did not vote, presumable because they were either RDR or
PDCI.  Included in this figure are those who would not have voted even if
both Ouattara and the PDCI candidate were on the ballot. The  general
feeling, however, is that the majority that stay away were RDR and PDCI
supporters.  Some of Gbagbo's votes were protest votes against Guei.  They
would rather see a civilian with political experience elected than Guei
retained.  These protests votes may have been a combination of Ouattara and
Bedie supporters who are still licking their wounds after being overthrown
by Guei. Whether they voted for him with the expectation of a call for fresh
election is uncertain. But my view is to the contrary because Ivorians are
not that politically naive to believe that Gbagbo, who has been in the
political wilderness for over two decades, will call for fresh elections
after winning; a re-run which he is not certain to win.

I am of a different opinion as it concerns the democratic credentials of
Ouattara.  True, he was the hand-picked PM of Houphoueh-Boigny but his
record during his tenure shows him to be an incorruptible man and an
efficient manager. He fought corruption from the top down which is one of
his problems dogging him to this day because those big guns of the PDCI from
whom he demanded accountability are still around.  Anyway, let us give
Gbagbo a chance to display his democratic credentials and leadership
qualities.

Initially, Ouattara demanded a re-run but after meeting Gbagbo he has
indicated his willingness to proceed with the legislative elections in
December which observers believe he will win with a majority.  Should he
control the legislature, Gbagbo would find it difficult to govern without a
coalition and/or a compromise acceptable to the opposition.  Ouattara is no
longer insisting on a fresh election at this point. Come December, the story
could be different altogether.

On a personal note, my regards to Ndey and the little one.

Sidi Sanneh


>From: Saikou Samateh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: FWD: "POWER-HUNGRY" WIFE THE RUIN OF IVORY COAST'S GUEI
>Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 16:47:55 +0100
>
>Dear Sidi,
>I hope you and the Family are doing fine and far away from the troubles.
>However I have been following the debate here and it seems that the general
>line is that a new elections should be called for.This perhaps might be a
>way out of the present crisis,since all what the other opposition party is
>calling for is a new elections.But I have my doubts as why all these
>troubles now.Did the Ivorians voted for Gbagbo because they did not have a
>better favourite ?or did they vote for him expecting that he will call for
>new election after vining victory ?
>Ouattara has always been the favourite of the west,this is because of his
>political background.He has never question the politics of the West in the
>continent.And the fact that his participation in the former undemocratic
>and
>dictatorial government of Felex Houphouet Boigny is an indication that his
>sense of democracy is limited.Remember that when Gbagbo was a political
>victim,during the Pro-Democratic unrest,Ouattara was a man of power.The
>bitter relationship between the two must not be reduced to the unfortunate
>statement of Gagbo that he ,Ouattara ,is not an Ivorian.
>The pressure that is put on Gbagbo is very unfortunate,why,because this is
>a
>very opportune time for Ivorians to get the records straight,they came out
>in the streets  in their thousands to defend their victory ,and if Ouattara
>,instead of helping to advance this victory,called upon his supporters to
>come out and demand for new elections is without doubt very unfortunate.If
>the same pressure have been put on Guei,before the elections,perhaps the
>story will be different.That  the OAU,instead of looking at the problem
>from
>a very  different angle to find a solution to the problem,decides to echoed
>the hypocritical demand of the West,is without doubt very unfortunate.In my
>opinion,Ouattara should either join the National Reconciliation Government
>or continue his opposition activities,whiles waiting for the next election.
>
>For Freedom
>Saiks
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Sidi Sanneh <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, October 27, 2000 5:05 PM
>Subject: Re: FWD: "POWER-HUNGRY" WIFE THE RUIN OF IVORY COAST'S GUEI
>
>
> > Bro. Habib,
> >
> > Your concern about further lives being lost in the current crisis is not
> > only real but justified given the outcome of today's meeting between
>Gbagbo
> > and Ouattara at the private residence of the former. Despite the two
> > embrassing before and after their brief meeting and Ouattara's reference
>to
> > "President Gbagbo" (inplying recognision), the deep seated rivalry
>between
> > the two still remains. The fact that Ouattara's main priority, even
>after
> > meeting Gbagbo, is "to mourn the dead and to bury his dead supporters"
>and
> > not to join the new government says it all. In my view, to avert further
> > bloodshed, the fundamental issue of legitimacy must be addressed and one
>of
> > the options available
> > to Ivorian politicians is your suggestion i.e. for a
> > re-run of the presidential elections in line with the US, OAU, ECOWAS
>and
> > countries such as South Africa. To gloss over the difficult and
>sensitive
> > issue of legitimacy, in my view, would prove disastrous in the long run.
> > Little wonder Koffi Annan, after his Rwanda experience, is taking a
>clear
> > and unequivocal stance on this one.
> >
> > Sidi Sanneh
> >
> >
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