When there was an electoral stand-off in Zimbabwe, power-sharing was the solution and Robert Mugabe remained President. In Kenya, power-sharing was also the preferred route to peace and Mwai Kibaki remained President. (In both cases the opposition leaders, Morgan Tsvangirai and Raila Odinga, became Prime Minister.)
The calculation was made that shared power gave [peace the best chance, and that peace was more important than trying to establish who had won and then implementing the result. Bearing in mind Africa's terrible history of civil wars, the pressure to avoid them is inevitable.
Now, Ivory Coast is choosing an alternative to shared power, but the principle of peace above all else remains.
Ebiau on Facebook - This deal is good for the sake peace and the safety of the innocent people. We don't need another genocide again like Rwanda - let him concede defeat and take the olive branch for a soft landing for safe refuge with his entourage
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18:15
116050658
If mr gbagboh fails to hid the advice of this three west African leaders he should be force to do so with out any hindrance from Abdulai jalloh in guinea
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18:15
110743732
I prefer peace over war. Lansana Boima from Regent in Freetown
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18:15
113631290
Nshom on Facebook - The practical lesson from the juicy deal being offered to Gbagbo is that, if you see a (powerful) thief, beg him to carry his loot away in peace and have mercy on you
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18:15
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Mugisha in Kampala on Facebook - The best amnesty deal for Gbagbo is being locked behind bars and keys thrown away
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18:14
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Wilson on Facebook - I believe that a deal must be reached. For the sake of the Ivorian people let the mediators table BEFORE Gbagbo and Ouattara reach a power-sharing deal
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18:14
108845909
Gbagbo is using the fear of civil war as a his card. momo turay. freetown sierra leone
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18:14
108511252
Giving Gbagbo such a deal will be a bad precedence in Africa. Africa can鈥檛 be an island in the democratic dispensation. SK Duworko Liberia (Call me.)
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18:14
116050655
Everything should be done to avoid blood shed. David Boima in Regent freetown
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18:14
116050648
Gbagbo supporters must stop issuing empty threats bcus in d end they will all b tried in a court of law or b declared Fugitives! D most honorable thing 2 do is 2 give peace a chance 2 save d Ivory Coast. Remember Liberia n Sierra Leone? Joe P. Sumo,Congo Town-Monrovia, Liberia
Comment sent via SMS
18:13
116050640
Ingabire from Nairobi Kenya. Its unfair for those affected by deaths so far. He should face the full force of the law if he committed crimes.
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18:12
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Pancha Chandra on the blog - Gbagbo should respect the voice of the electorate. His stance is totally unbecoming of a leader of a huge nation. Caving in to his intransigience would be a recipe for bloodshed and turmoil
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18:09
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Tom D Ford on the blog - Sounds like extortion to me. What if he robbed those assets from the people of Ivory Coast? Why should he be allowed to get away with any illegal activities that eventually come to light?
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18:08
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Marija in Latvia on the blog - Yes, peace must be a priority in Ivory Coast whether one takes into consideration Africa's history and the international moves or not. And power-sharing would be the least painful way to resolve the dilemma, especially, again, that African states have had experience in such resolutions.
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18:04
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Hello! It''s Ben S here. We''re live now, discussing if a deal should be done with Ivory Coast''s Laurent Gbagbo to give him an amnesty - and also getting your thoughts on anti-Christian violence. Listen here -
Must Ivory Coast prioritise peace above all else?
| Monday, 1 Jan. 2011 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
When there was an electoral stand-off in Zimbabwe, power-sharing was the solution and Robert Mugabe remained President. In Kenya, power-sharing was also the preferred route to peace and Mwai Kibaki remained President. (In both cases the opposition leaders, Morgan Tsvangirai and Raila Odinga, became Prime Minister.)
The calculation was made that shared power gave [peace the best chance, and that peace was more important than trying to establish who had won and then implementing the result. Bearing in mind Africa's terrible history of civil wars, the pressure to avoid them is inevitable.
Now, Ivory Coast is choosing an alternative to shared power, but the principle of peace above all else remains.
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Ebiau on Facebook - This deal is good for the sake peace and the safety of the innocent people. We don't need another genocide again like Rwanda - let him concede defeat and take the olive branch for a soft landing for safe refuge with his entourage
Comment sent via SMS
If mr gbagboh fails to hid the advice of this three west African leaders he should be force to do so with out any hindrance from Abdulai jalloh in guinea
Comment sent via SMS
I prefer peace over war. Lansana Boima from Regent in Freetown
Comment sent via Facebook
Nshom on Facebook - The practical lesson from the juicy deal being offered to Gbagbo is that, if you see a (powerful) thief, beg him to carry his loot away in peace and have mercy on you
Comment sent via Facebook
Mugisha in Kampala on Facebook - The best amnesty deal for Gbagbo is being locked behind bars and keys thrown away
Comment sent via Facebook
Wilson on Facebook - I believe that a deal must be reached. For the sake of the Ivorian people let the mediators table BEFORE Gbagbo and Ouattara reach a power-sharing deal
Comment sent via SMS
Gbagbo is using the fear of civil war as a his card. momo turay. freetown sierra leone
Comment sent via SMS
Giving Gbagbo such a deal will be a bad precedence in Africa. Africa can鈥檛 be an island in the democratic dispensation. SK Duworko Liberia (Call me.)
Comment sent via SMS
Everything should be done to avoid blood shed. David Boima in Regent freetown
Comment sent via SMS
Gbagbo supporters must stop issuing empty threats bcus in d end they will all b tried in a court of law or b declared Fugitives! D most honorable thing 2 do is 2 give peace a chance 2 save d Ivory Coast. Remember Liberia n Sierra Leone? Joe P. Sumo,Congo Town-Monrovia, Liberia
Comment sent via SMS
Ingabire from Nairobi Kenya. Its unfair for those affected by deaths so far. He should face the full force of the law if he committed crimes.
Comment sent via BLOG
Pancha Chandra on the blog - Gbagbo should respect the voice of the electorate. His stance is totally unbecoming of a leader of a huge nation. Caving in to his intransigience would be a recipe for bloodshed and turmoil
Comment sent via BLOG
Tom D Ford on the blog - Sounds like extortion to me. What if he robbed those assets from the people of Ivory Coast? Why should he be allowed to get away with any illegal activities that eventually come to light?
Comment sent via BLOG
Marija in Latvia on the blog - Yes, peace must be a priority in Ivory Coast whether one takes into consideration Africa's history and the international moves or not. And power-sharing would be the least painful way to resolve the dilemma, especially, again, that African states have had experience in such resolutions.
Comment sent via host
Hello! It''s Ben S here. We''re live now, discussing if a deal should be done with Ivory Coast''s Laurent Gbagbo to give him an amnesty - and also getting your thoughts on anti-Christian violence. Listen here -