THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday stepped into the political imbroglio in Cote d’Ivoire by asking incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo to step down from power.
The regional power bloc explicitly stated that it was not inclined to having a Government of National Unity (GNU) in Cote d’Ivoire, arguing that the GNU approach had failed across Africa, especially in Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Addressing the global media last night after a seven-hour meeting in Abuja, ECOWAS Chairman and Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan said: “We have come to the conclusion that Alassane Ouattara won the run off of the elections. ECOWAS will no longer accept illegitimate government. We believe that in a democracy, the votes of the people must count.”
The Abuja extraordinary meeting started at about 1 p.m. The leaders emerged for break at 5.05 pm before ending deliberations by 6.55 pm yesterday.
Parts of the14-point communiqué President Jonathan read to the media before fielding questions at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport read: “In order to protect the legitimacy of the electoral process, the summit endorsed the results declared by the independent electoral commission and certified by the special representative of the secretary general of the United Nations in Cote d’Ivoire in accordance with Resolution 1765 of the UN Security Council.
“In this regard, the heads of state and government recognised Alassane Outtara as the president-elect and consequently, representative of the freely expressed voice of the Ivorian people”.
President Jonathan further stated that the sub-region’s leaders “decided to apply the provisions of Article 45 of the ECOWAS Protocol on democracy and good governance relating to the imposition of sanctions on Cote d’Ivoire including the suspension from all ECOWAS decision making bodies until further notice.”
Meanwhile, residents have fled Cote d’Ivoire, United Nations (UN) officials said yesterday, as the UN also began evacuating some 500 workers after a contentious election that resulted in both candidates claiming the presidency.
Also, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have expressed concern over the deepening political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire with a subtle threat to reassess its programmes in the embattled country, given the breakdown in governance.
In a joint statement made available to The Guardian via an electronic mail, the longstanding multilateral development partners of Cote d’Ivoire, however, pledged support for efforts being made by the African Union (AU) and other international partners to bring the crisis to a “quick and peaceful resolution,” and described the unfolding events in the West African country as a major source of concern.
The banks said they would, in line with their policies, continue to closely monitor developments and reassess the usefulness and effectiveness of their programmes.
Meanwhile, International Criminal Court (ICC)’s prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, has urged Cote d’Ivoire to act now to prevent possible war crimes or crimes against humanity following the disputed presidential election.
“Ivory Coast today is announcing the possible commission of future crimes. So in terms of prevention, the time to act by the State is now,” Moreno Ocampo said in a statement made available to The Guardian, referring to Laurent Gbagbo’s decision to stay in power.
The World Bank and AfDB statement read: “The African Development Bank and the World Bank, view with great concern and frustration, the events unfolding in Cote d’Ivoire in the aftermath of the long-awaited elections, which were supposed to usher in peace, stability and a basis for improved governance and inclusive growth that reflects participation of all of Cote d’Ivoire.
“We, therefore, share the serious concerns expressed by the United Nations, the African Union, Economic Community of West African States and other international partners who have supported Cote d’Ivoire’s development efforts.”
UN Development Programme Country Director, Andre Carvalho, said hundreds of people have fled to neighbouring countries, and that officials feared more would leave if violence broke out.
“While there has not been any major violence, people have started fleeing into Ghana and Liberia,” he said.
UN peacekeepers laid sandbags and rolled out miles (kilometers) of razor wire on Monday to protect the aging hotel that has become the de facto presidency of the man who most of the world says won the presidential election. A UN tank also took position on one side of the lagoon-facing hotel and armoured personnel carriers were strategically guarding the parking lot as Alassane Ouattara held his first cabinet meeting inside a hotel room. At the same time, the UN said it is moving nonessential workers out of Cote d’Ivoire to other countries in the region as a precautionary measure. But Nick Birnback, spokesman for UN peacekeeping at UN headquarters in New York, said the decision to relocate nonessential workers did not signal a UN evacuation.
“In fact,” he said, “the uniformed services have increased their services in recent weeks to ensure they can perform the tasks they have been assigned in this difficult security environment.”
Across town in the real presidential palace, incumbent Gbagbo continued to defy calls from the United States, France and the European Union to step down.
Last week, the United Nations certified the election results confirming that Ouattara had won, and his victory has been recognised by numerous world powers including the United States and France. But that didn’t stop Gbagbo from going ahead with a shotgun inauguration over the weekend, where he warned foreign powers not to interfere.
Ouattara’s advisers gathered by the hotel’s pool and in the lobby Monday, sitting in lounge chairs between potted palm trees. Joel N’Guessan, his spokesman, said they are asking for the UN to use force and physically remove Gbagbo if he continues to cling to the office.
“President Barack Obama called to congratulate Ouattara. President Sarkozy congratulated Ouattara. Germany sent it by fax. So did England,” N’Guessan said.
“These are countries that are on the Security Council. If they cannot make this man respect the results of an election certified by the UN, then we might as well stop talking about democracy in Africa.”
In New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is “deeply concerned” about the situation in the country, his spokesman Martin Nesirky said on Monday.
Ban has been in contact with many world leaders about the situation, and is consulting with former South Africa’s President, Thabo Mbeki, who is serving as an international mediator in Cote d’Ivoire, the spokesman said.
Source:ngrguardiannews.com
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