The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) called for innovative solutions to unblock the stalled peace process in Côte d’Ivoire as heads of state launched talks on Friday aimed to map a new route to elections in the world’s top cocoa grower.
Time is running out in the war-divided country to decide a new transition arrangement before an existing United Nations-backed interim plan expires at the end of this month.
Elections foreseen under this international plan have been delayed because of disputes over disarmament and identity.
”Today [Friday] we have to explore new avenues, new and innovative solutions in order to end this crisis which has caused enough suffering to the people of Côte d’Ivoire,” said Niger President Mamadou Tandja, current head of the Ecowas.
”The task is far from being easy in light of the complexity of the situation and of the profound disagreements between the parties, whose excesses can only lead them further away from the path of peace and national reconciliation,” he said.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Ecowas executive secretary, said the summit would make a set of recommendations to the African Union on what to do after the end of the transition period.
”There have been sufficient consultations with all the parties and their positions are well known. They have all advanced in their positions,” Chambas told Reuters by telephone ahead of the talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny attended the summit. Rebel leader Guillaume Soro was also expected in Abuja, though he did not take part in the summit, which was for heads of state and government only.
Divided country
The country has been divided into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south since a 2002 to 2003 civil war.
Gbagbo and the rebels disagree over what will happen at the end of the UN-backed transition period on October 31.
The year-long transition was set up after elections due to be held in October 2005 were postponed. It kept Gbagbo in power for a further 12 months, flanked by Banny, a consensus prime minister with extra powers to organise a vote within the year.
However, elections have been postponed again, blocked by political squabbling and violent protests.
Chambas said the Ecowas summit would focus on the key issues of voter registration, citizen identification and the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of rebel forces.
He said the summit would tackle the contentious issue of Gbagbo’s mandate, but declined to give any details on what proposals were on the table.
The rebel forces and the political opposition say they will no longer accept Gbagbo as head of state, but the president argues that the Constitution allows him to stay in office with full powers until elections can be held. — Reuters