Update from Ros: We're inviting people we know that you want to speak to...
2011 is a big year for African politics. Next year nearly twenty nations across the continent will hold national elections, probably the most since the independence era.
So you can understand why many have been watching the events unfolding in Ivory Coast. One observer has said this is the World vs Gbagbo in an African test case.
With numerous International and African bodies going up against a steadfast incumbent the outcome in Ivory Coast will surely send a message to the rest of continents leaders ahead of so many important elections.
Today the UN is warning of a real risk of civil war in the country, they say Mr Gbabgo is recruiting Liberian mercenaries in preparation of violence. The Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also accused Mr Gbabgo of blockading the country鈥檚 UN mission warning that 鈥渁ttempting to starve them into submission will not be tolerated.鈥
- We've the UN spokesperson in Ivory Coast to respond to your points.
- We'll have at least one expert on Ivory Coast to answer any questions you have about the country and its politics.
- We're inviting spokespeople for both Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara to respond to your points (though neither have confirmed yet...).
ORIGINAL POST:
So where will this all end? The Economist says the AU must not look weak:
As the continent鈥檚 leading body, which often intones the mantra of 鈥淎frican solutions to African problems鈥, must not back down. It has done just that several times before when a well-entrenched incumbent has been defeated at the polls but insisted on staying on. In the past few years, most notably in Kenya and Zimbabwe, presidents have lost elections but, after horrendous spasms of violence, have persuaded the AU and junior regional bodies, such as the 15-country Southern African Development Community, to let them remain at the head of patchwork governments of 鈥渘ational unity鈥. Worse still, a year ago in Madagascar the AU deplored a coup and loudly insisted that the power-grabber should stand aside. But after an awkward hiatus, nothing more was done.
Knox Chitiyo, head of the Africa programme at the Royal United Services Institute says the international community must act fast:
If the impasse continues, the implications are that elections don't matter and that defeated candidates who have military support can always use constitutionalism to subvert democracy.
The EU has agreed a travel ban on Mr Gbabgo and at least one African country has offered him exile if he steps down but what more can be done? According to the FT an african diplomat is very clear about the options left to Eocwas:
There are two scenarios: either the international and regional pressure pushes Gbagbo to leave office or there is civil war. There is no third way.
Do you agree? We鈥檝e been here before and with so much at stake how can an agreement be reached?
Tedla in New York emails: I am following what is going in in Ivory Coast following election and its aftermath. Foreign direct involvement is what makes this one different than many other elections in Africa. The real losers are the Ivorians who came out and voted peacefully and have no control if their vote is counted. This is a sad day for Africa.
Comment sent via SMS
18:44
115958330
How do Gbabgo feel to see his people dying n turning into Refugee?He shu remeber wat happen here in Liberia Edna Bropleh Monrovia
Comment sent via SMS
18:34
109085955
If the USA could forcefully remove Sadam from Kuwait why cant they do the same in ivory coast - by Mukuka Chilufya in Chambishi, Zambia.
Comment sent via SMS
18:35
115958276
Am very shocked that the UN has not yet sent more troops 2 ivory cost to protect innocent citizens been victimised.julius zulu from lusaka Zambia
Comment sent via SMS
18:32
115941601
Where did the constitution comision get their results from 2 declare Gbagbo winner if electeral comision says watara is the winner? Billy from Zambia
Comment sent via SMS
18:34
108647882
Sanctions did not bring down President Mugabe and they definately will not force Gbagbo out of power. Lethal force would do better.
Ekayu Wilson. Soroti. Uganda
Comment sent via SMS
18:37
113167422
Please UN,sanctions do more harm to the common person than the leaders.(DAVID/Uganda)
Comment sent via SMS
18:37
115927173
The peace keeping troops should not be seen taking sides with rbels in particular. It is distasteful. Sender rosalind in freetoxn
Comment sent via Facebook
18:38
113631290
Oumar: Will the UN really succeed in Ivory Coast? So far they have fail in every country they intervened from Congo to Haiti! Please give us a break, let the Ivorians solve the Ivorians problem.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:31
113631290
Eric: The UN cannot intervene as the country is clearly polarised. Its clear that we now have North and South Ivory Coast. Any intervention will throw the nation into chaos.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:28
113631290
Shindo in Zambia emails: If Ivory Coast goes on to war most of its people will suffer. Not only that but also the countries around it. Is there anything that the United Nations can not do to stop this? Ivory coast should look at Zambia.
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
18:24
113631290
Abdulai in Guinea text: Sanctions can not remove Gbagbo from power the only solution to Gbagbo and his stubborn government is military action.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Lanray in Nigeria: African countries, especially those that will be having their elections in 2011 have a lot to learn from the polical situation in Ivory Coast, and our Political leaders should discard greed and self centeredness.
Comment sent via SMS
18:22
115958195
From Alusine Barrie in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Why the UN not accepting the extended hands of Gbagbo that the result of the election be re-examined?
Comment sent via SMS
18:22
115958175
the international community should use the situation to stress democracy to the whole continent eg to countries like uganda,rwanda etc .HUDSON OTIM
On air: Ivory Coast on the Brink
| Wednesday, 12 Dec. 2010 | 17:52 - 19:00 GMT
Update from Ros: We're inviting people we know that you want to speak to...
2011 is a big year for African politics. Next year nearly twenty nations across the continent will hold national elections, probably the most since the independence era.
So you can understand why many have been watching the events unfolding in Ivory Coast. One observer has said this is the World vs Gbagbo in an African test case.
With numerous International and African bodies going up against a steadfast incumbent the outcome in Ivory Coast will surely send a message to the rest of continents leaders ahead of so many important elections.
Today the UN is warning of a real risk of civil war in the country, they say Mr Gbabgo is recruiting Liberian mercenaries in preparation of violence. The Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also accused Mr Gbabgo of blockading the country鈥檚 UN mission warning that 鈥渁ttempting to starve them into submission will not be tolerated.鈥
- We've the UN spokesperson in Ivory Coast to respond to your points.
- We'll have at least one expert on Ivory Coast to answer any questions you have about the country and its politics.
- We're inviting spokespeople for both Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara to respond to your points (though neither have confirmed yet...).
ORIGINAL POST:
So where will this all end? The Economist says the AU must not look weak:
As the continent鈥檚 leading body, which often intones the mantra of 鈥淎frican solutions to African problems鈥, must not back down. It has done just that several times before when a well-entrenched incumbent has been defeated at the polls but insisted on staying on. In the past few years, most notably in Kenya and Zimbabwe, presidents have lost elections but, after horrendous spasms of violence, have persuaded the AU and junior regional bodies, such as the 15-country Southern African Development Community, to let them remain at the head of patchwork governments of 鈥渘ational unity鈥. Worse still, a year ago in Madagascar the AU deplored a coup and loudly insisted that the power-grabber should stand aside. But after an awkward hiatus, nothing more was done.
Knox Chitiyo, head of the Africa programme at the Royal United Services Institute says the international community must act fast:
If the impasse continues, the implications are that elections don't matter and that defeated candidates who have military support can always use constitutionalism to subvert democracy.
The EU has agreed a travel ban on Mr Gbabgo and at least one African country has offered him exile if he steps down but what more can be done? According to the FT an african diplomat is very clear about the options left to Eocwas:
There are two scenarios: either the international and regional pressure pushes Gbagbo to leave office or there is civil war. There is no third way.
Do you agree? We鈥檝e been here before and with so much at stake how can an agreement be reached?
Your comments
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Tedla in New York emails: I am following what is going in in Ivory Coast following election and its aftermath. Foreign direct involvement is what makes this one different than many other elections in Africa. The real losers are the Ivorians who came out and voted peacefully and have no control if their vote is counted. This is a sad day for Africa.
Comment sent via SMS
How do Gbabgo feel to see his people dying n turning into Refugee?He shu remeber wat happen here in Liberia Edna Bropleh Monrovia
Comment sent via SMS
If the USA could forcefully remove Sadam from Kuwait why cant they do the same in ivory coast - by Mukuka Chilufya in Chambishi, Zambia.
Comment sent via SMS
Am very shocked that the UN has not yet sent more troops 2 ivory cost to protect innocent citizens been victimised.julius zulu from lusaka Zambia
Comment sent via SMS
Where did the constitution comision get their results from 2 declare Gbagbo winner if electeral comision says watara is the winner? Billy from Zambia
Comment sent via SMS
Sanctions did not bring down President Mugabe and they definately will not force Gbagbo out of power. Lethal force would do better. Ekayu Wilson. Soroti. Uganda
Comment sent via SMS
Please UN,sanctions do more harm to the common person than the leaders.(DAVID/Uganda)
Comment sent via SMS
The peace keeping troops should not be seen taking sides with rbels in particular. It is distasteful. Sender rosalind in freetoxn
Comment sent via Facebook
Oumar: Will the UN really succeed in Ivory Coast? So far they have fail in every country they intervened from Congo to Haiti! Please give us a break, let the Ivorians solve the Ivorians problem.
Comment sent via Facebook
Eric: The UN cannot intervene as the country is clearly polarised. Its clear that we now have North and South Ivory Coast. Any intervention will throw the nation into chaos.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Shindo in Zambia emails: If Ivory Coast goes on to war most of its people will suffer. Not only that but also the countries around it. Is there anything that the United Nations can not do to stop this? Ivory coast should look at Zambia.
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
Abdulai in Guinea text: Sanctions can not remove Gbagbo from power the only solution to Gbagbo and his stubborn government is military action.
Comment sent via Facebook
Lanray in Nigeria: African countries, especially those that will be having their elections in 2011 have a lot to learn from the polical situation in Ivory Coast, and our Political leaders should discard greed and self centeredness.
Comment sent via SMS
From Alusine Barrie in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Why the UN not accepting the extended hands of Gbagbo that the result of the election be re-examined?
Comment sent via SMS
the international community should use the situation to stress democracy to the whole continent eg to countries like uganda,rwanda etc .HUDSON OTIM