The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire may be heading for another civil war as a result of election stale mate which has bitterly produced two presidents. The country is now being ruled by two men whose rivalry may soon plunge the West African country into deep recession – of war. The two men: Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara seem bent on making life difficult for each other without thinking of the consequences of their shallow ambition on the country and its people.
Mr. Gbagbo has ruled for ten years and despite pressure from around the region and the rest of the world, he has refused to recognise the people's choice thereby clinging on to power. Mr. Ouattara who was declared winner of November 28th run-off election is not in the mood to surrender his mandate thereby running a parallel regime along with Guilliane Soro as his new Prime Minister.
Whilst the two men wallow in the luxury of ruler-ship, the Ivoirians utter a followership cry of despair which no one seems to be hearing. And it is this particular scenario that often leads to drum – of war. We should not forget that this former French colony has in the past experienced two coups d'état (1999 and 2001) and a civil war.
I don't want to pretend that I know much about the history of this country which was an economic powerhouse during the 60's and 70's after which the economic crises in the 80's led to the period of political and social turmoil. However, I think common sense (or is it un-common sense) should be applied to this current debacle.
The beauty of elections and in fact its objective is to respect people's votes and eventually make it count. Anything contrary will always bring chaos and cause unnecessary sufferings. I passionately believe that peace will always elude any country in which people's votes are being subverted. And of course this is a common practice in most African states. When will this change?
The change may not come soon and this is disheartening as is frightening. It is difficult to deconstruct the nature of sit-tight syndrome engulfing African rulers. The happenings right now in Ivory Coast is a useful remind in this regard. You lost the election but got the Constitutional Council to overrule the Electoral Commission! This is a brazen disregard for the country and its people.
Laurent Gbagbo has been ruling Ivory Coast for quite a time. Unless it is kingdom-ship, ten years is a long time for one man to continuously govern a country. Whatever it is that Mr. Gbagbo cannot accomplish in ten years regarding his nation should be left in the hands of another Ivoirians who have shown interest. That should be the common sense in a Semi-presidential Republic like Ivory Coast.
It is not that Alassane Ouattara will be different but at least he should be allowed to enjoy the people's confidence in him. If he won the run-off election as being claimed by region and international observers, then the incumbent has no choice other than to go – if at all he has any respect for the country and its people.
Since Ivory Coast is not a kingdom, then Gbagbo must be digging his own grave by suppressing people's voice irrespective of his desire to negotiate. No, you don't negotiate about an election you lost. Gbagbo has had his own chance therefore he should quit after defeat. The funny thing as far as I am concerned is the fact that Ouattara might have also exhibited such sit-tight behaviour had he in Gbagbo's shoes. Of course this is a hypothetical example.
Ivory Coast: The Danger of Sit-tight Mentality (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/ivory-coast-danger-sit-tight-mentality)