PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO

COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENTS IN

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Introduction

• The political impasse in Côte d’Ivoire persists with both Mr Laurent

Gbagbo and Mr Allasane Ouattara maintaining their claim to legitimacy

as elected presidents of the country

• Mr Gbagbo continues to function as the President of Côte d’Ivoire

while Mr Ouattara is isolated in the Golf Hotel

• Mr Gbagbo controls the civil service and the security forces while Mr

Ouattara enjoys the support of the rebel Forces Nouvelles and the bulk

of the international community

Background

• Mr.Ouattara declared the winner by the IEC

• Constitutional Council annulled results from some constituencies and

then invalidated the IEC decision

• Constitutional Council pronounced Mr Gbagbo as President.

• Both MessrsGbagbo and Ouattara sworn in as President and appointed

Prime Ministers and Cabinets, respectively

• International community rejects Mr Gbagbo’s claim to the Presidency

• The UN, ECOWAS, the AU recognise Mr Ouattara as President-elect

3

Background cont.

• On 23 December 2010, the Central Bank of West African States

recognised Mr Ouattara as president and said that only people

authorised by him would be allowed to access the state account.

• The decision was meant to starve Mr Gbagbo of funds to pay civil

servants and the military.

• On 22 January 2011, West African leaders asked Ouattara to

nominate a new head for the West African Central Bank after

Governor Philippe Henri Dacoury -Tabley resigned.

4

Background cont.

• Mr Gbagbo continues to control the civil service and the security

forces, the national broadcaster, energy sector, and the

import/export infrastructure

• Mr Gbagbo demands the immediate withdrawal of UNOCI and the

French forces

5

Security Situation

• The current situation has deteriorated significantly with clashes

becoming increasingly confrontational – approximately 250 killed.

• UNSC approved an increase of 2000 peacekeepers by adopting

UNSC Resolution 1967 on 19 January 2011

6

Legal Perspectives

• The elections were held in terms of the Constitution and within the

framework of international Agreements

• These Agreements provided for the role of the Independent Electoral

Commission and the role of the United Nations

• The Constitutional Council annulled the votes from seven disputed

districts and pronounced Mr Gbagbo the winner.

7

ECOWAS Position

• At Summit of 7 December 2010, ECOWAS endorsed the results

certified by the SRSG

• The Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS recognised Mr

Ouattara as President-elect of Cote d’Ivoire

• The Summit called on Mr Gbagbo to abide by the results of the

second round of Presidential elections

• On 3 January 2011, a delegation of the AU and ECOWAS undertook

a Mission to Côte d’Ivoire to seek a peaceful resolution of the political

crisis

8

ECOWAS Position cont.

• ECOWAS also resolved to keep open the military option

• The ECOWAS Mission reiterated the positions of the Extra- ordinary

Summits of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and the

AU Peace and Security Council on the Ivorian crisis

• In response, Mr Gbagbo agreed to negotiate a peaceful end to the

crisis without any pre-conditions

• On his part, Mr Ouattara indicated his willingness to ensure a

dignified exit for Mr Gbagbo provided the latter accepted the

outcome of the presidential election

9

ECOWAS Position cont.

• The ECOWAS delegation was accompanied by the Prime Minister

of Kenya, representing the AU

• It should be pointed out that Angola is in support of Mr Gbagbo

– Angola has publicly stated that it views ECOWAS’s decision as

being premature

10

ECOWAS Position cont.

• ECOMOG held a meeting on 18 January 2011 in Bamako.

• According to the statement made by a Nigerian high-ranking officer

after the ECOMOG meeting in Bamako, ECOMOG have finalised a

military plan in case the military option is required. He said that “We

are ready for action,” meaning that the military option is still in the

agenda of the ECOWAS forces.

 

11

AU Position

• The AU in its statement of 4 December 2010 endorsed the position

of ECOWAS and the pronouncement of the Chairperson of the

Commission and the UNSC

• The AU called for the outcome of the elections to be respected.

• The AU had nominated the Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr R Odinga,

to engage with the Ivorian leaders in order to resolve the political

impasse, based on stated ECOWAS and AU positions

12

AU Position cont.

• Mr Odinga participated in the visit to Côte d’Ivoire on 3 January

2011 as discussed above

• Mr. Odinga again visited Côte d’Ivoire on 17 and 18 January 2011

and afterwards stated that efforts to reach a settlement had failed.

• Mr Odinga visited South Africa and held discussions with President

Zuma on Thursday, 20 January 2011.

13

The United Nations Security Council UNSC

• In terms of Resolution 1962 (2010) of 20 December 2010, the

United Nations Security Council accepted the outcome of the

second round of Presidential elections as certified by the Special

Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations

(SRSG), and as endorsed by ECOWAS and the AU

• Given the questions asked about the validity and methodology of the

certification process by the SR of the UNSG, Mr Choi had made a

statement to the UNSC in which he explained the process that

flowed from the Pretoria Agreement of 2005

14

The United Nations Security Council UNSC cont.

• UNSC has approved an increase of 2000 peacekeepers by

adopting UNSC Resolution 1967 on 19 January 2011.

15

South Africa’s position

• Determining the legality of the successive events remains critical –

principles of the rule of law; good governance; and respect for the

will of the people important

• The South African Government issued a media statement on 8

December 2010 which urges President Laurent Gbagbo to respect

and abide by the declarations issued by ECOWAS, the AU and the

UNSC with regard to the second round of elections in Cote d’Ivoire

• The South African Government called for restraint and further urged

the Ivorian leaders to promote national reconciliation and unity

16

• During a press conference on 5 January 2011, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane said we are very much interested in finding a peaceful resolution of the problem

17

South Africa’s position cot.

• At the moment Ecowas, supported by the AU, are of the view that

we should give diplomacy a chance to resolve the problems. South

Africa supports that kind of approach to the problem

• Continue to engage ECOWAS leadership with view to opening

space for a peaceful resolution

• South Africa does not support military intervention in Cote d’ Ivoire

• Current impasse can only be resolved through concerted political

and diplomatic efforts

18

THANK YOU

19