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.
GBARGBO, PLEASE D鈥橭NT FALL FOR THESE BAITS BEING BANDIED BY THESE WESTERN PUPPETS. IT IS A TRAP. REMEMBER CHARLES TAYLOR? THEY WILL CATCH YOU LIKE A RAT, KEN, ACCRA.
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18:34
109432277
The only best alternative 2 end Ivorian pol. crisis is military intervention,for peaceful negotiation will never remove uncle Gbabo from pwr.JOK MATIOP ATEM.S.S
Comment sent via Facebook
18:33
113631290
Sam on Facebook - Ex-President Gbagbo should count himself fortunate to be given a grace period within which to put his acts together. The electorates have made their choice as to who should be their leader and I think that is a sovereign right that must be respected.
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18:37
116050791
The international comunity is the problem in Ivory coast,Because this conflit started since when the northern rebles supported by Alansan watara ploted coup against Mr Gbagbo regime.from Albert in kenema ,sierra leone.
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18:37
113631290
Martin emailed - Why is the International committee and the United Nations in particular so quick to intervene in Africa when it suits them? It seems that war crimes and jail terms are for African leaders. Why didn't George Bush and Tony Blair not tried for war crimes? Please leave Africa alone
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18:28
113631290
Justin in Colorado emailed - A guest made a comment earlier that it is the United States and France are the ones behind the election results aimed at installing a dummy government so we can exploit their natural resources. I must say that 99% of the American population couldn't care less about Ivory Coast's election problems. I don't mean to be rude, but the American public has a lot bigger issues to think about than some power struggle in Africa
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18:27
115941610
for the sake of peace,i think mr.gbagbo and mr.outara should both step aside and the second runner up is the president or new independent elections should be called.all we have is hear say,mr.gbagbo says he won and so does mr.outara.call me.musisi andrew in ntinda uganda
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18:26
108519817
Chijioke in Owerri, Nigeria
The amnesty鈥檚 just a trick 2 get him out of power. Eventually noone鈥檒l honour it. Remember the charles taylor deal?
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18:26
114295205
Military action is the only solution to the political stalemate in the ivory coast. There is nothing to negotiate with Mr laurent Gbagbo except the terms of his exit. It was the prospect of having another government of national unity that motivated him to refuse accepting defeat in the first place. This must be brought to an end starting with the ivory coast. Mustapha Kawoje. Nigeria.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:25
113631290
Reginald in Atlanda emailed - Peace should be high on the list - however, we have seen this type of behaviour with leaders in Africa for years. How does the corruption ever begin to end when you can simply bully your way into power? It is essentially a license to continue
Comment sent via SMS
18:25
108658507
Hi World have your say. Pres. Lawrence Gbagbo took the oath to defend the constitution of Ivory Coast hence as long as the constitution still back Pres.Lawrence Gbagbo he will never give up power easily. Pap Joshua Kingkpa of Liberia.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Njoku in Abuja on Facebook - Amnesty or a lonely life in exile will be alright. But he must not be allowed to play any part in the government, because both Kenya & Zimbabwe experiments are 'political suicide' which are not working.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Jeff on Facebook - As distasteful as such a deal would be, if it prevents bloodshed then it is a worthwhile compromise.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:22
113631290
Sanousi Sesay on Facebook - I hope president Gbagbo considers this offer from the international community as a last chance for him to leave the presidency with dignity. Our elders normaly say, it's a stubborn fly that follows the dead body down to the grave.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:22
113631290
Peter in Zambia on Facebook - Why do we seem to think Gbagbo is just a simpleton, to be toyed with? He was around when a similar deal was done with Charles Taylor of Liberia - safe passage, asylum etc. Where is Charles Taylor now, and what happened to those ECOWAS and Nigerian guarantees?
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 SMS
GBARGBO, PLEASE D鈥橭NT FALL FOR THESE BAITS BEING BANDIED BY THESE WESTERN PUPPETS. IT IS A TRAP. REMEMBER CHARLES TAYLOR? THEY WILL CATCH YOU LIKE A RAT, KEN, ACCRA.
Comment sent via SMS
The only best alternative 2 end Ivorian pol. crisis is military intervention,for peaceful negotiation will never remove uncle Gbabo from pwr.JOK MATIOP ATEM.S.S
Comment sent via Facebook
Sam on Facebook - Ex-President Gbagbo should count himself fortunate to be given a grace period within which to put his acts together. The electorates have made their choice as to who should be their leader and I think that is a sovereign right that must be respected.
Comment sent via SMS
The international comunity is the problem in Ivory coast,Because this conflit started since when the northern rebles supported by Alansan watara ploted coup against Mr Gbagbo regime.from Albert in kenema ,sierra leone.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Martin emailed - Why is the International committee and the United Nations in particular so quick to intervene in Africa when it suits them? It seems that war crimes and jail terms are for African leaders. Why didn't George Bush and Tony Blair not tried for war crimes? Please leave Africa alone
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Justin in Colorado emailed - A guest made a comment earlier that it is the United States and France are the ones behind the election results aimed at installing a dummy government so we can exploit their natural resources. I must say that 99% of the American population couldn't care less about Ivory Coast's election problems. I don't mean to be rude, but the American public has a lot bigger issues to think about than some power struggle in Africa
Comment sent via SMS
for the sake of peace,i think mr.gbagbo and mr.outara should both step aside and the second runner up is the president or new independent elections should be called.all we have is hear say,mr.gbagbo says he won and so does mr.outara.call me.musisi andrew in ntinda uganda
Comment sent via SMS
Chijioke in Owerri, Nigeria The amnesty鈥檚 just a trick 2 get him out of power. Eventually noone鈥檒l honour it. Remember the charles taylor deal?
Comment sent via SMS
Military action is the only solution to the political stalemate in the ivory coast. There is nothing to negotiate with Mr laurent Gbagbo except the terms of his exit. It was the prospect of having another government of national unity that motivated him to refuse accepting defeat in the first place. This must be brought to an end starting with the ivory coast. Mustapha Kawoje. Nigeria.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Reginald in Atlanda emailed - Peace should be high on the list - however, we have seen this type of behaviour with leaders in Africa for years. How does the corruption ever begin to end when you can simply bully your way into power? It is essentially a license to continue
Comment sent via SMS
Hi World have your say. Pres. Lawrence Gbagbo took the oath to defend the constitution of Ivory Coast hence as long as the constitution still back Pres.Lawrence Gbagbo he will never give up power easily. Pap Joshua Kingkpa of Liberia.
Comment sent via Facebook
Njoku in Abuja on Facebook - Amnesty or a lonely life in exile will be alright. But he must not be allowed to play any part in the government, because both Kenya & Zimbabwe experiments are 'political suicide' which are not working.
Comment sent via Facebook
Jeff on Facebook - As distasteful as such a deal would be, if it prevents bloodshed then it is a worthwhile compromise.
Comment sent via Facebook
Sanousi Sesay on Facebook - I hope president Gbagbo considers this offer from the international community as a last chance for him to leave the presidency with dignity. Our elders normaly say, it's a stubborn fly that follows the dead body down to the grave.
Comment sent via Facebook
Peter in Zambia on Facebook - Why do we seem to think Gbagbo is just a simpleton, to be toyed with? He was around when a similar deal was done with Charles Taylor of Liberia - safe passage, asylum etc. Where is Charles Taylor now, and what happened to those ECOWAS and Nigerian guarantees?