The South African government has not been informed of the apparent rejection of its mediation role by Côte d’Ivoire rebels, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
”We have heard nothing, except through the media,” spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.
South Africa had no intention of approaching the rebel New Forces for a clarification, he added.
In a statement to French news agency Agence France Presse on Wednesday, rebel spokesperson Sidi Konate said: ”Starting today, the New Forces completely reject the South Africa mediation in the Ivory Coast”.
According to AFP, the rebels have accused President Thabo Mbeki of being motivated by economic expansionism, giving biased rulings, and selling arms to his counterpart Laurent Gbagbo’s government.
They called on the African Union (AU) — which elected Mbeki to mediate — to arrange new mediation in the divided West African nation.
There appeared to be some confusion earlier this week as to the status of the mediation effort ahead of presidential elections in the Côte d’Ivoire, scheduled for October 30.
South African deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told reporters on Tuesday that ”…the mediation’s role by and large has now concluded” and that the United Nations and AU should take over peace efforts.
But on Wednesday, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota assured the UN Security Council that South African mediation would continue.
In its statement to AFP, the New Forces also accused Pahad of showing the mediator’s bias in favour of Gbagbo.
Mamoepa said: ”South Africa’s mediation efforts in the Ivory Coast have always been above reproach.”
Rebels from the Muslim-dominated north of Côte d’Ivoire have been pitted against the Christian population in the south since a failed coup against Gbagbo in September 2002.
The rebels announced last week their decision to withdraw support for presidential elections. – Sapa