[allAfrica.com] [stanbic.com] Why Cote d'Lvoire Boils Daily Champion (Lagos) ANALYSIS December 4, 2004 Posted to the web December 6, 2004 By Simon Ibe Lagos THE fear of the French that President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire is about to break their near total dominance of the Ivorien economy has been identified as the major cause of the crises in the country. Cote D'Ivoire has been facing a two-year old rebellion from militants in its northern region and early last month, the French forces in the country attacked and destroyed its airforce following Ivorien bombardment of targets in the rebel stronghold of Buake, including a French base where 9 French soldiers and one American were said to have been killed. The French also opened fire on civilian protesters on the streets of Abidjan, the state capital killing and wounding many and claimed it was done in self defence. Champion investigation showed that the French are apprehensive that President Gbagbo will this December, refuse to renew contracts with Cote D'Iovire that were signed ten years ago and which cover virtually every sector of the country's economy. President Gbagbo admitted in an interview with some Nigerian journalists that visited his country within the week that the contracts which have virtually made Code D'Ivoire a statellite of France are due for review and said that he would this time around, give out the contracts to countries and firms, wherever they come from, so long as the terms favour his country. This position runs contrary to the expectation of France that all the contracts must be handled by her, as Cote D'Ivoire's former colonial masters. But according to sources, French companies always quote outrageous prices for contracts and insist that they must get the jobs. According to the President of the National Assembly of Cote D'Ivoire, Mr. Mamadou Koulibaly and the President of the Economic and Social Council, Mr. Laurent Dona Fologo, the war in Cote D'Ivoire is a battle for true sovereignty, especially economic freedom. Mr. Koulibaly said that the crisis in Cote D'Ivoire is not about religion, the nationality question or north and south dichotomy as many imagine, but a question of decolonisation." France wants protection from competition," he said, insisting that this can not work in the present age of market economy. Fologo, who said that eight French West African countries had been adversely affected by the crisis in Cote D'Ivoire, stressed that though the country had gained political independence in terms of a flag and an anthem, it was still tied to the apron strings of France, economically, a situation, which he said is unhealthy. He insisted the problems confronting Gbagbo are in reaction to fears that he would tow the path of Sekoure Toure of Guinea and Patrice Lumumba of the Congo who fought for true political and economic independence for their countries, and called on other African countries to rally round Gbagbo to secure not only political but economic freedom for Cote D'Ivoire. Ambassador Raph Uwechue, Special Representative of ECOWAS in Cote D'Ivoire, who put together the fact finding tour for the Nigerian journalists, said that Cote D'Ivorie, which accounts for 40 per cent of the GDP of French West African countries was too important in the subregion to be allowed to be destroyed by war. He decried the fact that misinformation had contributed adversely to the crisis and hoped that the new insights got from the tour would help to educate Nigerians and the international on the issues at stake and the way out of the crisis. attacked and destroyed its airforce following Ivorien bombardment of targets in the rebels stronghold of Buake, including a French base where 9 French soldiers and one American were said to have been killed. The French also opened fire on civilian protesters on the streets of Abidjan, the state capital killing and wounding many and claiming it was done in self defence. Champion investigation showed that the French are apprehensive that President Gbagbo will this December, refuse to renew contracts with Cote D'Iovire that were signed ten years ago and which cover virtually every sector of the country's economy. President Gbagbo admitted in an interview with some Nigerian journalists that visited his country within the week that the contracts which have virtually made Code D'Ivoire a statellite of France are due for review and said that he would this time around, give out the contracts to countries and firms, wherever they come from, so long as the terms favour his country. This position runs contrary to the expectation of France that all the contracts must be handled by her, as Cote D'Ivoire's former colonial masters. But according to sources, French companies always quote outrageous prices for contracts and insist that they must get the jobs. According to the President of the National Assembly of Cote D'Ivoire, Mr. Mamadou Koulibaly and the President of the Economic and Social Council, Mr. Laurent Dona Fologo, the war in Cote D'Ivoire is a battle for true sovereignty, especially economic freedom. Mr. Koulibaly said that the crisis in Cote D'Ivoire is not about religion, the nationality question or north and south dischotomy as many image but a question of decolonisation." France wants protection from competition," he said, insisting that this can not work in the present age of market economy. Fologo, who said that eight French West African countries had been adversely affected by the crisis in Cote D'Ivoire, stressed that though the country had gained political independence interms of a flag and an anthem, it was still tied to the apron strings of France, economically, a situation, which he said is unhealthy. He insisted the problems confronting Gbagbo are in reaction to fears that he would tow the path of Sekoure Toure of Guinea and Patrice Lumumba of the Congo who fought for true political and economic independence for their countries, and called on other African countries to rally round Gbagbo to secure not only political but economic freedom for Cote D'Ivoire. Ambassador Raph Uwechue, Special Representative of ECOWAS in Cote D'Ivoire, who put together the fact finding tour for the Nigerian journalists, said that Cote D'Ivorie, which accounts for 40 per cent of the GDP of French West African countries was too important in the subregion to be allowed to be destroyed by war. He decried the fact that misinformation had contributed adversely to the crisis and hoped that the new insights got from the tour would help to educate Nigerians and the international on the issues at stake and the way out of the crisis.   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2004 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================