Time's up

Threats and ethnic rivalries get wilder as President Gbagbo's mandate runs out

Violence looms again. President Laurent Gbagbo's five-year term in office ended on 26 October but he insists on staying on. National elections are blocked by the stalemate between the government and the northern rebels, who style themselves the Forces Nouvelles (AC Vol 46 Nos 18 & 20). On 29 October in Abidjan, the pro-Gbagbo Jeunes Patriotes watched an elaborate parade by the government army. On 30 October, the opposition electoral alliance, the Rassemblement des Houphouëtistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix, gathered in thousands to demand Gbagbo's departure and fresh negotiations. After the rally ended, thousands set up burning barricades and marched towards the Central Plateau district, where the presidency is located. Police fired in the air and dispersed the demonstrators.

Article Tags:
Laurent Gbagbo, No demos, only celebrations, Germany, Philippe Mangou, France, Ukrainian, Brigitte Raynaud, Guillaume Soro, Robert Gueï, Mathias Doué, Nigeria, Zadi Philippe, Heavyweight alliance, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Denis Mao Glofehi, Front de Libération du Grand-Ouest, Liberia, Belarus, Force Aérienne de la Côte d'Ivoire, Guiai Bi Poin, Forces Nouvelles, Jeunes Patriotes, Jeunes Patriotes, Africa Confidential, Forces Nouvelles, Forces Nouvelles, Centre de Commandement des Opérations de Sécurité, Fraternité Matin, gendarmerie

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