<<It seems Gbagbo has been playing games since the initial attempt
to broker a peace deal between his government and the rebels.>>

Jabou,

It is this perception that the prinicpal players in the CI conflict have
of Gbagbo even before the outbreak of hostilities which has been working
against him.

IMO, he could have brokered his own peace deal immediately following the
Nation Reconcilation Conference in 2001 chaired by Seydou Diarra, the man
appointed in Paris to head a transition government comprising of all
parties in the conflict. Had he seized that opportunity, he could have
retained all of his powers as President which as you know, under the new
arrangement, he has ceeded a significant part to the new Prime Minister.
He appears to have also lost the Defence and Interior portfolios to the
rebel groups.  The wolof saying sums up Gbagbo's predicament: Niitu beh
lakaleh.

Sidi Sanneh

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