From the BBC:
Ivory Coast: Ouattara wants EU sanctions lifted
Ivory Coast’s internationally recognised President Alassane Ouattara has urged the EU to lift sanctions, in a bid to restart the ailing economy.
Mr Ouattara now controls the main cocoa-exporting port of San Pedro, and wants to restart the trade.
But his troops are still not in control of all of the main city Abidjan, where his rival Laurent Gbagbo remains holed up in the presidential residence.
Aid agencies are warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Abidjan.
Residents of the city are without basic amenities such as running water and power, and food supplies are running low.
Witnesses say bodies are lying on the streets after days of bitter fighting between loyalists of the two presidential claimants.
‘Question of principle’
Mr Ouattara, widely recognised as the winner of a presidential election last November, told French TV channel La Chaine Info he was taking measures to get the economy back up and running.
“I have asked that European Union sanctions on the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro and certain public entities, be lifted,” he said.
Ivorian turmoil
28 Nov 2010: Incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and challenger Alassane Ouattara in election run-off
2 Dec: Electoral commission announces that Ouattara won 54% of vote
3 Dec: Constitutional Council declaring Gbagbo the winner; UN says Ouattara was victor
30 Mar 2011: Pro-Ouattara forces enter the capital, Yamoussoukro
4 Apr: UN launches air strikes on Gbagbo in main city, Abidjan
5 Apr: Three generals negotiate Gbagbo’s surrender
6 Apr: Gbagbo denies he is ready to leave
Ouattara’s political tightrope
Ivory Coast is the world’s biggest cocoa-producing nation, but uncertainty and violence since the disputed election has badly damaged the industry.
Mr Ouattara said the central bank would begin reopening its branches, and the army would secure delivery of medical supplies to hospitals and food to markets.
He blamed Mr Gbagbo for plunging the country into crisis, but said his forces now had the presidential palace under blockade.
Advisers to Mr Gbagbo, who insists he won the election, say the embattled incumbent is determined not to surrender.
“President Gbagbo will not cede,” said his Paris-based adviser Toussaint Alain.
“It’s a question of principle. President Gbagbo is not a monarch. He is not a king. He is not an emperor. He is a president elected by his people.”
French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said Mr Gbagbo had fewer than 1,000 troops left loyal to him.
Divided nation
Mr Ouattara’s forces launched a sustained offensive last month, rushing southwards from their northern strongholds.
They rapidly took over most of the country, but much of Abidjan is dominated by Gbagbo supporters, and days of fighting has now plunged the city into crisis.
“There are armed rebel groups who don’t know which side they are on looting not only private houses but also some stocks of humanitarian agencies – that is unacceptable,” said the UN’s Elisabeth Byrs.
Last November’s election had been intended to reunite the former French colony, which split in two following a northern rebellion in 2002.
But the result highlighted the divide in the country, with Mr Gbagbo dominating the south and Mr Ouattara winning most of the votes in the north.
As the crisis deepened in the past week, the UN and French forces have joined the battle for Abidjan.
On Monday, they launched air strikes on pro-Gbagbo military bases, after Mr Gbagbo’s forces were accused of using heavy weapons to attack civilians and UN peacekeepers.
The UN has repeatedly called for Mr Gbagbo to step down.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court says it will investigate alleged human rights abuses by both sides during the fighting, which has left hundreds dead.
In his TV address, Mr Ouattara promised to punish the perpetrators of violence.
“On behalf of you all I would therefore like to express our recognition to the Republican forces of Cote d’Ivoire for having done their duty,” he said.
“I urge them to be exemplary in their conduct and to refrain from any crimes, any violence against the people or any act of looting. All those involved in such deeds will be punished.”
FS… thanks for this update! The French and UN are laying the foundation to create another “Haiti-like” political and social situation for their advantage in Cote D’Ivoire. They will install their oligarchy, flood the country with NGO’s, have a permanent UN “peacekeeping” force (in reality AFRICOM forces), oppress the people while they plunder their resources.
Nothing changes but the faces!
asabagna, This is one of the most astute comments I have read anywhere on the Ivory Coast situation.
The onus now is on the people of Cote D’Ivoire to impede the above.
There are many models out there for African countries to follow and emulate.India,Brazil, Chile or even the Four Tigers.
Today, hardly any country has elections that are then followed by bloodbath just because some people are not satisfied with its outcome.
This is the time for Africans to create a political culture and stop blaming people for their political instability and economic dependency. The future lies in the hands of the people of Cote D’Ivoire.The future lies in the hands of all Africans.
If we are going to look at Africans as pitiful people, incapable of controlling their own destiny independently or looking out for the interest of their countries, then we must add that something is inherently wrong with them.
I am the first one to say that France has meddled in the affairs of their former African colonies , but it was pretty obvious that if France and the UN had not intervened, there would have been more killings in Cote D’Ivoire .
Even if France does not install an oligarchy in Cote D’Ivoire,I doubt one does not exist there already , or capable of rising up without the help of anyone.
Example:
Right after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the existing oligarchy(Imagine in a communist country!) joined together with the new business class(How did they rise up so fast after many years under communism? ) , showed their fangs and tentacles and took their place in the new Russia.
Elites are with us to stay forever. They are not going anymore.
Cote D’Ivoire is a country of many different African nationalities, something that is not unusual in many other countries across this world .
I can name you many countries with different ethnic groups or nationalities living peacefully within their borders.
Diversity is more a plus than a disadvantage.
I believe this is a turning point in the political history of Cote D’Ivoire and hope for the best.
Saludos…
The BBC changed its online story. At the Following Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13039825
The story was: Breaking News: Ivory Coast: French soldiers ‘hand Gbagbo to rebels’
you may see the original reproduced at http://www.modernghana.com/news/324090/1/breaking-news-ivory-coast-french-soldiers-hand-gba.html
Then it was changed, so that now the title reads: Ivory Coast: Gbagbo held after assault on residence, and the story is different
The illegal action by the French has been edited out.
Inner City Press reported the same change in story from the UN, and you can also read it here:
France helps seize Gbagbo in Ivory Coast
From the Coalition Against Foreign Military Intervention in Africa (CAFIA):
Former UK ambassador and human rights activist Craig Murray has added insight on Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast desperately needs a healing figure, somebody who is not Ouattara or Gbagbo.
In a more recent post he describes exactly why so few in Africa have any trust in Ouattara: