AS the political crisis in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire deepens, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the emergence of two presidents in the country of 20 million people.
Following a disputed election, the world’s largest producer of cocoa now has two presidents as incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara have both been swornin after claiming victory in the presidential run-off.
Ouattara was initially declared the winner last Thursday by Cote d’Ivoire’s Election Commission, but on Friday its ruling was overturned by the Constitutional Council. Gbagbo, who has the backing of the head of the country’s armed forces, was swornin for a third term in office at the presidential palace on Friday afternoon.
And within hours, Ouattara, a former prime minister from
the predominantly Muslim north was swornin at an Abidjan hotel, guarded by the United Nations (UN) peacekeepers.
Several countries and international organisations - including the United States (U.S.), the UN, France and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have backed Ouattara as the true winner of penultimate Sunday’s run-off.
Appealing yesterday to the Ivorien political leaders and the people to refrain from any further acts that would lead to violence in the fragile situation, the ECOWAS commission said:
“Following the unexpected turn of events in Côte d’Ivoire after the run-off of the presidential elections recently held there, the ECOWAS Commission wishes to express its deep disappointment and concern at the anomalies that have attended the leadership transition in that member state, especially the reported inauguration of the incumbent President...This is more so, in view of the part played recently by the ECOWAS Observer Team in ascertaining the true wish of the electorate and the concerted efforts made by ECOWAS and the international community to ensure peaceful and democratic election in line with the ECOWAS Declaration on Political Principles and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.”
It noted further that in the prevailing circumstances, ECOWAS “strongly condemns any attempt to usurp the popular will of the people of Côte d’Ivoire and appeals to all stakeholders to accept the results declared by the electoral commission.”
The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government will consequently have an extraordinary meeting tomorrow in Abuja, with the sole objective of examining the situation and deciding on subsequent action on the crisis.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also yesterday quoted the African Union (AU) as saying in a statement that the organisation rejected “any attempt to create a fait accompli to undermine the electoral process and the will of the people. It also called on all parties to “show the necessary restraint and to refrain from taking actions which will exacerbate an already fragile situation”. It also warned that the crisis could have “incalculable consequences.”
French President Nicolae Sarkozy had earlier last week stated full support for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Choi Young-Jin, who is responsible for certifying the electoral process in accordance with the Security Council’s resolutions.
Meanwhile, former South African President Thabo Mbeki has arrived in Cote d’Ivoire for the (A.U) to help mediate in the political crisis. Mbeki arrived at Abidjan airport yesterday morning, the first time that the country’s borders had been opened since the crisis blew up on Thursday. The former South African
president had earlier helped to mediate a peace deal in Cote d’Ivoire. But the fear now is that if he fails to find a way out, rebel groups in the north who support Ouattara will take up arms in protest.
Ouattara immediately re-appointed Guillaume Soro as his prime minister.
Soro had tendered his resignation from Gbagbo’s administration just hours earlier. Soro - who is the head of the New Forces rebels in the north – has warned that overturning the results threatens to derail attempts to stabilise and reunify the country after the 2002 civil war.
Cote d’Ivoire has since closed its borders and stopped broadcasts of international news media into the country. An overnight curfew remains in place amid loss of lives and street protests.
SOURCE:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com
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