Beran,
You are right on the money. Guei was a problem but he was not the only
problem or even the main problem. Political observers agree on one point and
that is Guei aggravated an already existing problem of exclusionary politics
called Ivoirite by pushing a Constitution which formalised and legalised
that xenophobic policy. If the claims that Liberian elements were
introduced into the scene prove correct then Guei succeeded in further
complicating an already complex political atmosphere. For more detailed
analysis of the Liberian factor, please go to the following link:
allafrica.com/stories/printable/20001030018.htm The ethnic, regional and
religious divide has been there before Guei came to the scene as head of
state. I do not agree, however, with those calling for an immediate re-run
of the presidential elections. In fact, Ouattara seems to be concentrating
his efforts on the upcoming Parliamentary elections. I believe this is the
way to go. Gbagbo has also made some conciliatory gestures by agreeing to an
International Enquiry into the recent massacre of civilians allegedly by the
security forces. He has also called for a "Truth and Peace Commission" to be
established although the Terms of Reference of the Commission is unclear as
at now. Therefore, pushing for a re-run at this juncture would be, in my
view, a serious miscalculation given the positives moves by all parties
concerned in recent days. The diplomatic community in CI seem to be
supporting a delay in calling for immediate elections until, at least, after
the Parliamentary elections.
Sidi Sanneh
>From: "Jeng, Beran" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FW: Rejected posting to [log in to unmask]
>Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 09:11:27 -0500
>
> The Milosevic Effect.
>
> The flight of General Guei and the assumption of the
>Presidency
>by
> Laurent Gbagbo,solves one problem but creates several new
>ones.
> The chasing of Guei from power in a courageous display of
>people
> power with Guei's guards firing live ammunition into
>crowds of
> protesters is celebrated as an African reenactment of the
>overthrow
> of Slobodan Milosevic.
> The main problem is what to do about the politicians
>excluded
>from
> the polls and their call for fresh elections. This is the
>primary cause
> of the tension that prevails in Cote D'Ivoire with the
>religious
>dimension
> added to it and I believe there may be an ethic under
>tone,
>which in my
> opinion, is not pronounced.
> To address the problem,there should be fresh elections
>with all
>eligible
> parties participating to give legitimacy to whoever wins.
> Political and civic education should also be conducted to
>raise
>he level
> of awareness of the people that despite our
>political,religious,and ethnic
> differences,they are fighting the same cause for the
>betterment
>of Cote
> d'Ivoire and hence Africa.
>
> Beran
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: foroyaa [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
><mailto:[mailto:[log in to unmask]]>
> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 9:21 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
><mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: FOROYAA PUBLICATION (COTE
>D'IVOIRE)
>
> COTE D'IVOIRE: THE END AND THE BEGINNING
> The developments in Cote D'Ivoire have
>lessons
>for countries in
> Africa in
> particular and the World in general.
> The fundamental lesson to draw is that
>where a
>people know what
> they want
> and are organised to fight for it no force
>on
>earth will be able
> to block
> them from achieving success. However, if
>short
>term solutions
> are sought for
> long term problems immediate success is
>bound
>to be accompanied
> by new
> complications. This is how matters stand
>in Cote
>D'Ivoire.
> At first the people had assumed that the
>problem
>was general
> Guei. Now that
> he is gone tension still remains in Cote
>D'Ivoire. What is
> responsible for
> this tension? How is it to be addressed?
>
>
>
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