Stalemate in Côte d’Ivoire

UN Peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire

The situation in Côte d’Ivoire continues to be tense, with incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo refusing to rescind his claim to the presidency. Yesterday the US announced a travel ban and visa restrictions against Gbagbo, members of his government and their immediate family members. Those currently in the states face deportation.  The European Union has already imposed sanctions against the Gbagbo government in an effort to pressure the former president to step down. On Monday they announced visa bans of Gbagbo and 18 of his advisors. They will also be freezing their European assets. Previously the African Union suspended Côte d’Ivoire from all activities until Alassane Ouattara assumes power.

Currently, Ouattara is residing in a hotel in Abidjan, surrounded by UN peacekeepers, who are in turn surrounded by the Ivorian military who are still until the control of Gbagbo. Gbagbo has ordered the 10,000 peacekeepers currently in Côte d’Ivoire to leave the country.

There have been increasing reports of Ouattara supporters being “disappeared.”  The UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire has received hundred of reports from victims and family members about abductions from unidentified individuals wearing military uniforms. Since a clash last week between Ouattara protesters and president guards, there has also been an escalation in violence. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay reported that more than 50 people have been killed and over 200 injured. Additionally more than 6000 people have left for Liberia and Guinea since the election.

Côte d’Ivoire’s civil war, which divided the north and south ended in 2005. Ouattara’s base of support is in the North and there are fears that the situation will reignite the conflict. Today, in a televised address, Gbagbo announced that he would be willing to engage in talks with Ouattara in order to avoid bloodshed.

“I don’t want another war, I don’t want any more Ivorian blood to be spilled,” he said.”I am therefore ready to welcome a committee … headed by the African Union, involving ECOWAS, the United Nations, United States, the European Union, Russia and China, which will have permission to analyze objectively the facts of the electoral process … to solve this crisis,” he added. Hopefully this is a step toward resolution.

Our offices in the country have continued to work through the upheaval though they’ll be closing shortly for the holiday season. Until the situation has calmed down or found some kind of resolution, we cannot engage in mediations or on the ground. However, there is still a need for Search’s work, perhaps more than ever. Our offices have seen an increased demand for our radio programming from community radio’s across the country. With so much uncertainty and rumors abounding, our programming is seen as neutral, constructive and informative. Our in-country staff continue to seek out and amplify voices of moderation. While most of our staff have been able to continue working in the offices, they have occasionally been forced to work from home when road blocks or tension make it difficult or unsafe to travel. We’ll continue to update as the situation progresses.