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Published 19th November 2004

Vol 45 No 23

Côte d'Ivoire

At war with the peacekeepers

The sacking of the armed forces Chief of Staff may herald a disastrous split in the army

Côte d'Ivoire is already split in two, but with refugees heading out of the former African success story to seek refuge in the ruins of Liberia, the question is whether the Ivorian army will fracture. If so, this would exacerbate an already grave crisis and allow Côte d'Ivoire to become Africa's latest failed state. President Laurent Gbagbo may have helped that process along on 13 November when he sacked General Mathias Doué and replaced him with Colonel Philippe Mangou, the Commander of the Yamoussoukro region who led the assault on the French base in Bouaké on 6 November. Mangou received a swift promotion to Colonel Major.

Gunning for Number 2

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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Khama's coming

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Pointers

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Russian roulette

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Golden trial

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