/ 17 December 2010

Côte d’Ivoire braces for trouble with new protest

Côte D'ivoire Braces For Trouble With New Protest

Allies of presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara urged Ivorians to join a new march through Abidjan to seize the state broadcaster’s building on Friday, raising fears of more violence in a dispute over last month’s election.

A failed attempt by Ouattara’s camp to occupy the building on Thursday left at least 10 protesters dead as they clashed with security forces armed with live rounds, while pro-Ouattara forces waged a brief gun battle with forces loyal to incumbent Laurent Gbagbo in central Abidjan.

The United Nations, Washington, African states and others have called on Gbagbo to stand down after the November 28 poll they say was won by Ouattara, but which Gbagbo insists was rigged by rebels who still hold the north after a 2002 to 2003 civil war.

“We will continue to march,” Ouattara spokesperson Patrick Achi said by telephone after Thursday’s violence in the West African nation’s economic capital heightened fears of a return to all-out conflict.

A Reuters eyewitness said there were few early signs of protesters gathering on the streets of Abidjan, which were much quieter than usual. Many shops remained shut and there was little traffic in the streets.

Strong grip
The success of Gbagbo’s forces in repelling the march on state TV and radio on Thursday suggests he retains a strong grip on key parts of the armed forces, including the presidential guard that witnesses said played a major role in Thursday’s incidents.

Gbagbo’s government spokesperson said at least 20 people were killed in Thursday’s anti-Gbagbo street protests in Abidjan, 10 of them demonstrators and 10 security forces. Ouattara’s rival government said security forces had killed 14 protesters when they opened fire on them.

Gbagbo’s camp has alleged that some of the protesters were armed, while Ouattara’s allies have cited the presence of armed Liberian militias in Abidjan attacking demonstrators. Both sides deny the allegations of the other camp.

Violence flared elsewhere in the country on Thursday as pro-Ouattara rebels and government forces exchanged fire for hours in Tiebissou, the central town marking the line between the rebel-held north and government-held south after the war.

“Both the pro-Gbagbo FDS [security forces], and the pro-Ouattara former rebel New Forces [FN] appear battle-ready, and it would take very little to spark all-out confrontation,” said Rolake Akinola, Africa analyst for VoxFrontier Consulting.

Fear of a disruption to supplies in the world’s top cocoa grower pushed futures prices close to four-month highs reached last week. The key March cocoa contract in New York rose $24 to end at $3 003 per tonne on Thursday.

All eyes will be on the actions of the local UN peacekeeping force if the situation deteriorates. The UN has about 10 000 soldiers and police in the country. The force has a mandate to protect civilians but said its job was not to protect the march.

Separately, a top-level African Union delegation is due in Abidjan on Friday to attempt discussions with both sides on the crisis. — Reuters