Seven heads of state and government, alongside Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny, gathered for the African Union (AU) Peace and Security The leaders were studying recommendations submitted by west African leaders earlier this month on how to end the crisis that has split Ivory Coast in two since a failed 2002 coup to oust Gbagbo. Since the attempted coup, Ivory Coast has been cut in two with the president's government in control of the south and the FN holding the north. The proposals called for the extension of Gbagbo's and Banny's terms in office, which were due to expire at the end of this month when twice-delayed elections were to be held.
In his opening speech, AU commission chief Alpha Oumar Konare acknowledged elections could not be held as scheduled and called on his colleagues to anchor their discussions on the proposals by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) bloc. "In this context, the council must agree on new strategies and solutions to make the peace process a success in light of the recommendations proposed by the Ecowas heads of state," he said. According to those recommendations, a political transition period in which Gbagbo will remain in power should also be further extended by year despite vehement opposition from the New Forces (FN) rebel group.
"Considering that the planned election cannot be held as scheduled, they (the leaders) recommended that a new transition period not exceeding 12 months should be established commencing from November 1, 2006," they say. A senior AU diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity said those proposals will "definitely be endorsed, and strengthened by the PSC." A similar extension was accorded last year, prolonging Gbagbo's mandate - scheduled then to end by that October at the end of his five-year term - by one year, until presidential and general elections could be held.
Over the weekend, the United Nations (UN) announced it would postpone the planned elections for up to a year, and predicted a new Security Council The Ecowas proposals also outline the terms of office for Gbagbo and Banny, with Gbagbo staying as head of state and Banny given "necessary authority" to unify Ivory Coast's divided defence and security forces. In addition to the internal Ivorian recommendations, the leaders attending Tuesday's meeting were expected to discuss the future of mediation efforts by South African President Thabo Mbeki. Ecowas is pressing for Mbeki's departure, diplomats say, because he is seen as too close to Gbagbo to fulfil his function.
The outcome of Tuesday's discussions will be submitted for consideration by the UN Security Council, which is to discuss the matter on October 25. In addition to Mbeki, the meeting was also attended Congo-Brazzaville's Denis Sassou Nguesso, also the chairman of the African Union, Senegal's Abdoulaye Wade, Burkina Faso's Blaise Campore, Malawi's Bingu wa Mutharika and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
News RSS