AFRICA/IVORY COAST - “We are back to where we started” say Fides sources a month after violence in Ivory Coast

Thursday, 9 December 2004

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Abidjan (Fides Service)- “We are back where we started at least apparently. After violence a month ago public order is stable and calm has returned. At the political level we see again the sort of dialogue between the deaf which has marked political activity in Ivory Coast for the past 2 years” local sources in Abidjan, economic capital of Ivory Coast told Fides. “The principle point of discussion regards changing the electoral law which says that only candidates with both parents of Ivorian origin may be elected, in order to allow the election of candidates whose parents were not born in Ivory Coast. Initially President Laurent Gbagbo said he would approve the amendment without a referendum. But now he has called for a referendum ” the sources told Fides. “The Opposition says a referendum cannot be held in a country which is divided”.
At the beginning of November after Ivorian aircraft attacked a French military base there were clashes between President Gbagbo supporters and French Licorne sent to Ivory Coast to monitor the cease fire between the army and guerrillas in the north.
Ivory Coast has been divided into two since September 2002. Half is under control of President Gbago, and the north is in the hands of the New Forces rebels. “But no one wants the country to stay this way. Both the President and the Opposition have called for national unity although from the political point of view they continue operate to prolong the division of Ivory Coast” the sources told Fides.
Earlier this week South African President Thabo Mbeki, charged by the African Union to mediate the Ivorian crisis, reached a preliminary agreement on various points. The measures adopted included, actuation of political reforms agreed on with the pact signed in France January 2003, start of disarmament process, reinstating of rebel ministers in the “national reconciliation” government, return to a situation of security in the country. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/12/2004 righe 30 parole 366)