Vol 52 No 3 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Squeezing Gbagbo's budget 4th February 2011 African and European sanctions could take months to bite while the political and security crisis grows daily in Abidjan Europe is adding its own sanctions to the pressure on President Laurent Gbagbo from Africa's regional organisations to force him to stand down in the post-election stand off. At the same...
Vol 52 No 3 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Cocoa ban may hit Gbagbo's war chest 4th February 2011 Around 40% of the world's cocoa is grown in Côte d'Ivoire and the market is in confusion as a result of the reigning political paralysis. The harvests, though, are large...
Vol 52 No 2 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Propaganda war 21st January 2011 Many in the Francophone African exile community have been unusually supportive of Laurent Gbagbo, in spite of his sanguinary reputation and with few doubts about the fairness of...
Vol 51 No 25 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Two presidents, one crisis 17th December 2010 Violent clashes on the streets of Abidjan for control of state broadcasting escalate the post-election conflict Whether Côte d’Ivoire erupts into a fresh conflict or joins a new world of parliamentary democracy depends mainly on money, the military and regional solidarity. As Africa Confidential...
Vol 51 No 23 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Holding their breath 19th November 2010 Both contenders will have to ensure the results of the coming elections are accepted by all, if they are to mark an end to the civil war The most critical point about the second round of the presidential election on 21 November, said a veteran Ivorian politician, is not who wins but getting everyone to...
Vol 51 No 22 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE And then, there were two 5th November 2010 Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and challenger Alassane Dramane Ouattara will vie for the top job in a second round of voting at the end of this month Ivorians will have to wait nearly another month, until 28 November, to know the outcome of the presidential election. The first round of voting on 31 October was...
Vol 51 No 22 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Behind the election machinery 5th November 2010 Security arrangements for the 31 October elections were largely directed by Kadet Bertin, President Laurent Gbagbo’s niece and his Special Advisor on Military Affairs, eclipsing the Army Chief...
Vol 51 No 17 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE A dubious election date, again 27th August 2010 Organising October elections seems beyond the government’s will and the electoral commission’s resources >Defying those who say the government is not politically or administratively ready, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro announced that elections for president and Parliament will be held on 31...
Vol 51 No 17 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Politicians waiting in the wings 27th August 2010 Political activists of all tendencies are increasingly frustrated by the old guard of Laurent Gbagbo (65 years old), Henri Konan Bédié (76) and Alassane Dramane Ouattara (68). Calls...
Vol 51 No 5 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Another temporary fix 5th March 2010 No government, no electoral commission, no firm date for elections – the President has got what he wanted Once again, President Laurent Gbagbo has driven democratisation off the rails. On 12 February, he used Article 48 of the Constitution, which allows him to take exceptional measures...