Ivory Coast - Political Forum

CHUQ · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2007, 01:48 PM

This is a study made by the International Crisis Group onb the country.

The peace agreement signed in Ouagadougou by Laurent Gbagbo and Guillaume Soro on 4 March 2007 is a major turning point in resolving Côte d’Ivoire’s armed conflict but is only a first step in the right direction. It is now essential that all Ivorians who want long-term peace work together to ensure the transitional government effectively delivers identity documents to all citizens, collects all weapons still held by militias, embarks on comprehensive security sector reform and provides a credible election process. The international community stopped Côte d’Ivoire from descending into chaos for four years and must maintain its military, political and financial commitment. The peace process should not be driven only by the ambitions of the men who signed the Ouagadougou Agreement but also by the aim of building lasting peace in Côte d’Ivoire, which is essential for stability throughout West Africa.

International Crisis Group - 127 CÃ´te d'Ivoire: Can the Ouagadougou Agreement

CHUQ · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2007, 01:50 PM

Peace agreement did not last too long, did it?

IVORY Coast's Prime Minister Guillaume Soro escaped unhurt when his plane was hit by a rocket after landing in his own rebel stronghold of Bouake, but four others were killed, witnesses said.
Mr Soro, head of the New Forces rebels who seized the north of the West African country during the 2002-2003 civil war, became prime minister in April after signing a peace deal with President Laurent Gbagbo to guide the country to elections.

The New Forces said they arrested several people after the attack, but did not say if they were members of the movement - which had arranged a lavish welcome for its leader with French and UN dignitaries and a brass band waiting to greet Mr Soro.

Rocket hits Ivory Coast PM's plane, kills four | Herald Sun

Brother Oz · #3 (**permalink**) 06-30-2007, 04:10 PM

Doesn't shock me. What else do you expect from warlords?

CHUQ · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2007, 04:30 AM

Maybe the US can persuade Ethiopia to invade.

melek · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2007, 07:17 AM

The basic problems boil down to defining exactly what the terms mean. Who can / cannot be Ivorean? Who can vote? Who is a citizen?

The roots of this situation lie in the previous success of the Cote d'Ivoire relative to the lack of success in other countries such as Burkino Fasa.

The expansion in the Ivory Coast was largely fuelled by labour from the north, provided often by economic migrants and refugees. These have now been resident for decades and many of their children have been born there.

These "refugees" and their children now make up a significant portion of the total population--so much so that they can influence elections. To prevent this happening, Gbagbo changed the law to exclude them from government office. It did this my imposing a narrow definition of citizenship. This eliminated his main rival in an election and started the present problems.

The main issues are of importance outside the Ivory Coast because the questions that they pose will have to be answered in many places. In America, for example.

Given the demographics of mature states like UK or USA, there will be changes-as in the Ivory Coast's development. In some cases, the newcomers will form either a majority of, at least, a significant minority. This will change the society. It is predictable that the present structure will not like the change. "La Raza" has it's counterparts in many places.

"Get used to it" may not cover the response. In Ivory Coast it did not. The "originals" might have welcomed labour and skills to build the country, but they regard the country as theirs. They want to keep it that way.