Jabou,

Frankly the situation has gotten out of control despite the efforts of
ECOWAS. Gbagbo has been under heavy pressure from the loyalists in Abidjan
not to give in to the rebel demands to negotiate at the disappointment of
members of the ECOWAS Contact Group who has since left for their respective
capitals to brief their Heads of State.

Reports indicate that there is fighting in and around Bouake which the
loyal forces are trying to recapture from rebel control.  Civilians are
reported fleeing the area which will not only add to the ever increasing
refuge problem but will cause more civilian casualties.

My personal assessment is that the conflict has the potential of engulfing
not only CI but the entire sub-region if immedia
te resumption of the
negotiations does not take place.  The neighbouring countries are getting
increasingly concern about their own border security and understandably so.
Let us hope that peaceful resolution is found, and soon.

Sidi Sanneh

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