Deadlock in La Cote d'Ivoire: Implications for Liberia

The NEWS (Monrovia)
NEWS
December 4, 2003
Posted to the web December 5, 2003

By Ezekiel Pajibo Political Commentator
Monrovia
Recent news report that the Ivorian Government and the rebel forces have
reached a deadlock in their negotiation to peacefully resolve their conflict is
bad news for Liberia. The news is worsened by the fact that our government
officials, at least publicly, appear to be disinterested in the diplomatic
activities next door. About a week ago, ECOWAS Chairman and President of Ghana
John Kufour convened a meeting in Accra to assist in resolving the impasse
between President Laurent Gbagbo of La Cote d'Ivoire and the New Forces, as the
rebel group is known.
Liberia is not known to have participated in that meeting. The meeting failed
to resolve the conflict.
West African Foreign Ministers from Ghana, Guinea, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire
along with the Secretary General of ECOWAS recently visited the United Nations
in New York and called on the United Nations to send peacekeeping troops to
Cote d'Ivoire. But there are reports that the UN may not be capable of
mobilising such a force due to financial constraints and fears that the United
Nations Peacekeeping Office may be overstretched. The UN Secretary General
however, agreed to send an assessment mission to the country.
The Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs was not part of the delegation.
The latent xenophobia and false nationalism on display in the country is not
helpful. The declaration of emergency in the North of the country by the rebel
group is clearly "drawing a line in the sand." In the mean time, both sides
continue to blame each other for the impasse. The Government is demanding that
the rebel group should take up their positions in government. The rebel group
appear to be moving the goal post. At one point they called for the resignation
of President Gbagbo and early election.
Recently, following the Accra Summit of West African leaders, the rebel were
reported to have requested for security for their leadership who are to form
part of the government. They also want to run a number of key ministries
including Internal Affairs and Defence.
President Gbagbo and his supporters have accused neighbouring countries,
specifically Burkina Faso of supporting the rebels. There has not been any
visible movement on any of these issues and the longer it takes to have them
resolved the more entrenched each side might become in their positions. Given
the belligerent nature of utterances from both side, the possibility of
returning to war is real. On November 24, UN Secretary General warned, "There
is clearly a danger that Cote d'Ivoire could slip back into conflict."
According to him rebel-held areas are "degenerating into lawlessness. Senior
military leaders in the country have also warned of a return to war.
If this was to happen it will create more difficulties in any effort to bring
durable peace to Liberia. Yet our leaders in government could care less. There
are reports in the media that the Liberia "peace process is on track." As a
people, we are known for our complacency and this has cost the country a great
deal. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs need to be actively involved in
diplomatic activities in the region and elsewhere in ensuring that our peace
process is indeed on track and that war in Cote d'Ivoire does not happen. He
needs to work alongside other regional foreign ministers who have seen the
urgency of the moment and have visited New York and Washington, D.C. to seek
international assistance in averting war next door.
This is all the more compelling given the political uncertainty in Guinea,
where news reports abound about the ill health of its president. With no clear
succession in place, the political fallout in the event the Guinean leader is
incapacitated is anyone's guess. Meanwhile, the political brouhaha surrounding
the upcoming Presidential Elections is troubling to say the least.. Report of
an attempted coup in Sierra Leone is not of any comfort either. The Mano River
Union including Cote d'Ivoire is not out of the woods yet. The recent meeting
between the Presidents of Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso is encouraging. It is
hoped that the two men reached agreement, which will ensure that Cote d'Ivoire
does not go to war. The November 24 Meeting between Chairman Charles Gyude
Bryant and President Laurent Gbagbo is a good start.
Hopefully, both men were able to reach agreement that would find manifestation
in good neighbourliness and the cessation of support to armed groups. Liberia
needs to embark on a robust diplomatic mission to ensure that violence is
banished in the Mano River and Cote d'Ivoire. For lasting peace to come to
Liberia, our neighbours have to be at peace as well.

   

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