Violence Escalates in Africa’s Ivory Coast

By Caitlin Huey-Burns

March 28, 2011 RSS Feed Print

Thousands of supporters of Ivory Coast’s President Laurent Gbagbo enlisted in his army last week, fueling fears of renewed chaos in West Africa. Gbagbo’s refusal to accept his electoral defeat to Alassane Ouattara in the country’s November presidential election triggered bloody clashes between loyalists and Ouattara supporters. Rapes and killings, reportedly by Gbagbo’s forces, have left more than 400 dead. Over 50 people were killed last week alone. Gbagbo officials are encouraging young activists to join the army and fight against “the terrorists,” or backers of Ouattara, whom the United States and the rest of the international community recognize as the legitimate leader. Ouattara called on the United Nations to use force to protect civilians. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the violence and said those “responsible for ordering or carrying out these heinous acts will have to answer for their actions.” The Obama administration pledged $12 million to the World Food Program to help feed the tens of thousands of Ivorians seeking refuge in neighboring Liberia.
 

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Do you know that 65% of ivory coast cocoa deal and infrastructure are solely owned by france and gbagbo wanted all that stopped.please check your facts just as you said becos of the open policy now the are combatant trying to assert thier control over those that help there fathers and mother during the period of hardship.but the will prevail becose a saying by mahatma gandhi NO ONE SHOULD TASTE THE WILL OR DETERMINATION OF ONE WHO SEEK FREEDOM!!!!

BI of KS 9:45PM March 28, 2011

i have been involved in trade with Cote d'Ivoire for over 30 years and normally visit it for a few weeks a year.about 40% of the population would be natural Ouattara supporters,originally emanating from Burkina Faso or Mali,or descendants thereof.many of these arrived during the early/mid 80s when drought and famine afflicted the Sahel.they benefitted from the open doors policy advocated by then president Houphet Boigny who allowed them to settle and start farming in what were supposed to be protected rainforests.many of those fleeing the country are these long standing residents in areas where they are the minority while in other areas its indigenous ivorians who are fleeing.atrocities at this point are probably being meted out on a more or less equal basis.

the vote against gbagbo was a vote for change rather than an overtly pro-ouattara vote.the economy has been deteriorating for decades not least as a result of the ruinous policies forced on the country by the same Ouattara during his period as head of BCEAO (west african central bank) and PM.this period involved selling off to foreign interests large stakes in most of the state assets,impoverishing the country and leaving successive governments very little actual ability to contract/stimulate the economy (in the process he received an apparently ill-gotten fortune estimated at approx $2 bil in 1990 dollars ,something seemingly ignored by the US when they so visibly backed him). France and the US are particularly keen for the pro-west Ouattara to take control especially as since Gbagbo has been in power there has been a tilt away from France towards South Africa,China and Russia.the possibility that a potentially huge oilfield lies off the coast is the primary motive behind the unusual interest in west african politics.as many ivorians have told me -only a new more neutral leader - neither ouattara,gbagbo nor former president bedie(who has allied with ouattara this time despite previously being a bitter opponent) can unite CDI.the obvious foreign support for ouattara since the election has further sullied his old reputation as a corrupt sevant of the west making his role as a peacemaker almost imposisble.

arriba of NY 6:41PM March 28, 2011

I would like to know if there are any Ivorians supporting Ouatara. Gbagbo has millions of youth join his army and most of the displaced and refugees are from etnic groups that are "accused" of being Gbagbo supporters.

After all the negotiations based in the Ouagadugu Agreement there were only 2500 Rebels, so who is supporting Ouatara inside the country?

expat 4:30PM March 28, 2011

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