A country holed up?

Since 2000 dramatic scenes have become regular occurrences in Cote d’Ivoire. Previously considered the jewel of West Africa, the country has had 7 years of a government of national unity (since 2003), 7 years of a peacekeeping presence in the country, 7 postponed elections (between 2000-2010) and there have been 4 months of intense political stand-off. Over the last week, the crisis has finally reached a tipping point.

As the results of last year’s elections were being announced by the Ivoirian National Election Commission, the person reading the results literally had their papers snatched from their hands, torn on national television and the already highly-pressured situation spiralled out of control. The Ivorian National Election Commission, the United Nations (entrusted to certify the elections), the African Union and ECOWAS all declared Alassane Ouattara the elected President of Cote d’Ivoire. The incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, simply refused to recognize the results or hand over power. What followed has been extremely alarming, totally avoidable and full of lessons for both Africans and the rest of the international community.

Economic, diplomatic and military means were deployed to bring an end to the stalemate. Travel and financial sanctions were imposed on Gbagbo and select supporters, and, at the request of Ouattara, on Ivorian cacao. The Central Bank of West Africa States closed its offices in the country, cutting off Gbagbo’s ability to pay the military and civil servants.  

Diplomatically, apart from the universally recognized election results and the numerous calls for Gbagbo to step down, the UN, AU and ECOWAS each sent mediation missions in an attempt to resolve the standoff. Ouattara rejected any calls for the establishment of a unity government, while Gbagbo vehemently rejected that he lost the elections (based on the Constitutional Court’s declaration). Although these efforts have not resolved the standoff, there are important lessons to be learned, including the need to act decisively, with consistency and with one voice.

The deteriorating security situation, the displacement of over 1 million people, the killing of innocent civilians and flagrant human rights abuses further escalated the crisis leading the UN Security Council to unanimously adopt resolution 1975 (30 March) under Chapter VII which calls for the protection of civilians and peacekeepers by any means necessary. In the last week, UN and French helicopters have targeted and disabled Gbagbo’s heavy weapons and arms caches, giving Ouattara supporters the upper hand.

With Gbagbo holed up in a bunker beneath his residence, hopefully the end of the stalemate is in sight. In any case, Ouattara has a daunting task ahead of him. In addition to bringing the country back to normality, kick-starting the economy, there is much healing and reconciliation that needs to happen. The country is more divided than it ever has been and religious as well as ethnic differences have been incited. It is clear that those responsible for abuses need to be brought to justice, but it will be a delicate balancing act.