Nigeria Content Online

The Economic
Community of West African States Commission president, Victor Gbeho,
yesterday expressed his frustration with the negative role certain
African countries have taken which is fueling the crisis in Cote
D’Ivoire. Mr. Gbeho was speaking at the presentation ceremony of the
final report by the European Union Electoral Observation Mission on the
presidential elections in Cote D’Ivoire in Abuja.

“The concern we
(ECOWAS) have is that apart from some geo-political interests by some
countries, there are others that are encouraging Gbagbo not to leave,”
he said. “Because of certain individual interests, some countries have
decided to break the tradition of solidarity in ECOWAS. What is
happening is a matter of serious concern to ECOWAS and the
international community, as certain countries have taken sides.

“As we talk now,
there is a South African war ship docked in Cote D’Ivoire coastal
waters, apparently in anticipation of any military action. Actions such
as this can only complicate the matter. One is surprised that a
distinguished country like South Africa would decide to send such a
support at this at this time.

“ECOWAS has never
been afraid of dialogue, but it has made it clear that any dialogue
that is not based on the wishes of the Ivorien people, as expressed
through the result of the last presidential election, would not work,”
Mr. Gbeho said.

The Ivorien crisis
followed the refusal of the former president of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent
Gbagbo, to accept the result of the November 28, 2010 presidential
run-off, which saw opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, emerging as
winner. Though ECOWAS heads of governments have since recognized Mr.
Ouattara as president-elect of Cote d’Ivoire, and consequently urged
Mr. Gbagbo to vacate power, or be forced out, cracks in the ranks of
the regional group appear to have thrown a spanner in the works for an
early resolution of the crisis.

In the report
presented by the chief observer of the 120-member EU Observation
Mission, Christian Preda, he expressed disappointment that the
presidential election, which was being awaited by the Ivorien citizens,
Africans and the international community as a signal of reconciliation
and return of democracy in the country has ended in crisis. He said the
mission, made up of representatives of the 23 EU members states as well
as Norway and Switzerland, closely monitored the process prior to the
elections, analyzed the campaigns, media coverage, Ivorien legislation
and its implementation against established international standards for
democratic elections.

According to the EU
team, though the first round of the elections went on normally, with a
record participation rate, the campaign for the second round was marked
by an upsurge of violence coming mainly from the incumbent president’s
camp. Though the report said EUEOM observed irregularities in the
conduct of the polls, it however pointed out that its evaluation
indicated that these irregularities affected the final results.

“The constitutional council’s decision taken upon the request by
candidate Laurent Gbagbo is considered by the EUEOM as a violation of
the Ivorien legislation and an abuse of power,” the report stated.