Nigeria Content Online

Cote d’Ivoire, the
world’s largest producer of cocoa and Libya, the world’s 13th largest
exporter of crude oil are both embroiled in conflicts that have led to
the deaths of many civilians, but the world appears to have chosen to
pay more attention to one than the other.

The two countries
have sit tight leaders who will do anything to remain in power despite
the obvious signs that their people no longer desire their leadership.
Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire, who lost an election last year and has
refused to hand over power to the elected and internationally
recognised Alassane Ouattara, has turned brutal with forces loyal to
him, killing protesters in Abidjan last week and edging the country
closer to civil war.

A large number of
refugees are already spreading across the sub region as they flee the
country. Yet the international community has remained docile in dealing
with Mr Gbagbo, focusing instead on Libya, understandably owing to its
asset: crude oil.

The price of crude
oil has fluctuated since the escalation of violence in the North
African country, a huge risk to the global economy which is just
pulling out of a global financial crisis. But the lack of concentrated
attention on Cote d’Ivoire is becoming more risky, as Mr Gbagbo appears
more recalcitrant by the day.

Just yesterday, he
banned the United Nations and French peacekeeping aircraft from flying
over or landing in Cote d’Ivoire and made it clear that he will not
agree to any negotiations that demand his stepping aside. Mr. Gbagbo’s
grandstanding is coming just as Mr. Ouattara left the country for the
Ethiopian capital where the Africa Union (AU) is reported to be holding
talks on forming a government of national unity to address the crisis.
The assumption is that the flight ban is a ploy to prevent the return
of Mr. Ouattara, who left the hotel he has been held up in for the
first time in the last two months.

Mr. Gbagbo’s
foreign minister, Alcide Djedje, boldly told reporters at the end of
the meeting on Thursday that, “We will never accept if the proposal is
for President Gbagbo to step down because he is the elected leader of
Cote d’Ivoire”. He further hinted at signs of returning the country to
civil war, stating that “If this initiative doesn’t come out with
irrefutable and pertinent propositions, we fear that the AU, somehow,
will contribute to what the rebels started in 2002,” referring to the
2002-2003 civil war that split the country in two.

Why would a leader
not wanted by his people be engaged in such grandstanding? Mr Gbagbo is
apparently taking advantage of the international community’s attention
on the country that lubricates the global economy, while he carries on
with his brutality.

While Muammar
Gaddafi launches attacks on his people and the rebels already
controlling parts of his country, the US is positioning its military
ships on alert. Meanwhile, nothing is being done for Cote d’Ivoire,
where protesting women were shot at.

The African media
has also proven incompetent in reporting the crisis going on right in
their midst. The catastrophe in Libya is getting major slots and
headlines, while Cote d’Ivoire has been relegated to the background.

As the African
Union sets about negotiating a government of national unity, sending a
wrong signal to African leaders who are renowned for never willing to
leave power, we call on the international community to give more
attention to Cote d’Ivoire and do the needful to oust this man who is
apparently going out of control. A situation that threatens to lead to
genocide should not be condoned because we preferred oil to chocolate.