Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo standoff - dwell updates
Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo standoff - dwell updates
12.24pm: Our Africa correspondent David Smith, who will likely be answering your problems while in the comments area at 1pm, has supplied some analysis from the possibilities open to Gbagbo since the web closes around him:
The deputy leader of Ivory Coast’s rebel forces informed me final month that they have no intention of killing him, but relatively want him to stand trial on the Global Criminal Court, subsequent the example of previous president Charles Taylor in neighbouring Liberia. There exists growing need for this while in the wake of some hideous human rights abuses about the past 4 months.
David says chat of Gbagbo, a previous historical past professor, becoming presented amnesty and taking up a instructing placement inside the United states is very long gone:
But he could nevertheless go into exile, probably across the border in Ghana, which was considered one of the nations that put the brakes on the mooted west African military intervention. Other candidates are Angola, in which president Jose Eduardo dos Santos is surely an aged ally, or Zimbabwe, in which president Robert Mugabe constantly welcomes any prospect to goad the west. Zimbabwe already supplies refuge to former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, desired for the notorious ‘Red Terror’ marketing campaign.
Then there’s South Africa, lately a bolthole for the two previous Madagascan president Marc Ravalomanana and exiled Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who returned to his homeland very last month. It truly is previously being joked that Aristide’s luxurious villa in Pretoria is now
empty and out there for Gbagbo to move in. South Africa angered Gbagbo’s rival, Alassane Ouattara, by refusing to take sides around previous year’s election, despite the fact that it has subsequently arrive on board with all the relaxation of your African Union in endorsing Ouattara. However, by
providing Gbagbo some breathing room, South Africa could fend off internal critics who say it’s got develop into subservient to the west, not minimum about Libya.
But many of the noises coming out of Gbagbo’s bunker right now appear to echo Churchill’s “in defeat, defiance” - which has a consequence that might resemble Hitler’s fate in 1945.
twelve.15pm: Gbagbo will likely be captured in the future couple of hrs, in line with a spokeswoman for Ouattara. Speaking to CNN she claimed:
The Republican forces of Cote d’Ivoire are in Laurent Gbagbo’s household. I believe within one particular hour they’ll seize Gbagbo. Inside of a person hour or two several hours.
She confirmed that a gun battle is happening inside the residence and additional that only Republican forces, allayed to Ouattara, are involved with the fighting, not UN or French troops.
eleven.53am: Ibrahim Coulibaly, a spokesman for the Ivory Coast embassy in France, just informed al-Jazeera English Gbabgo is “still in his bunker”. He reported:
Gbabgo is still denying the result with the election, so right now we made the decision to go and get him from his bunker.
Coulibaly stated they had no intention of harming Gbagbo but had no other selection than to work with force to acquire him out of his bunker.
“That’s the only implies now, we didn’t have any preference. We now have been trying to negotiate with him.”
Coulibaly denied that any French forces are involved with the assault.
eleven.37am: Affoussy Bamba, spokeswoman for that authorities on the president elect, Ouattara, has advised France-24 that Gbagbo will likely be captured “soon”. She reported:
At the recent minute they’ve not however captured Gbagbo but it will come about soon. They opened the gates and noted the residence is surrounded by large weaponry. Now the objective would be to seize him.
Members of Ouattara’s forces are reportedly below stringent guidelines from the president-elect’s federal government to take Gbago unharmed.
eleven.18am: Forces loyal to Ouattara are attacking Gbagbo’s palace and are setting up to get him from his bunker but the incumbent president still has some safety protecting him, Selay Koussi reports within a Skype interview from Abidjan.
From my home I can hear gunfire. Ouattara forces are firing in the bunker. They reported they’re going to catch Mr Gbagbo in his house. Gbagbo will not be exhibiting any indication of resigning. It’s possible only by in this way will he surrender. He is getting secured by a handful of faithful militiamen and safety guards.
We desire for any happy ending in any other case it truly is going to be quite challenging.
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11.12am: There’s a “real danger” that Gbabgo, his spouse along with other relatives members could be killed inside the assault on the presidential palace, his European representative Toussaint Alain has advised AP.
Alain claimed French forces are firing from two Puma helicopters and in addition through the rooftop from the French ambassador’s residence close by. He claimed:
France are going to be held accountable for the death of President Gbagbo, his spouse and family members members and all people who are inside the residence, that’s becoming bombarded through the French army.
French Army Spokesman Thierry Burkhard denied that French forces are firing with the residence.
11.02am: Residents throughout the presidential palace in Abidjan’s Cocody neighbourhood say they have heard serious gunfire and loud explosions coming through the route on the palace, Reuters studies. Alfred Kouassi, who lives in the vicinity of Gbagbo’s residence in Cocody, advised the news agency:
We have noticed from my developing the FRCI fighters (Ouattara forces) in pick-ups and 4x4 jeeps rushing in the direction of Gbagbo’s residence, weapons in their hands. We could hear computerized gunfire and in addition the thuds of large weapons coming in the residence.
ten.53am: A Gbagbo representative claims French forces are firing on the embattled Ivorian leader’s residence, AP reviews.
A French federal government spokesman has informed Reuters its forces usually are not taking part in on-the-ground fighting throughout the presidential residence palace.
Live web site: Twitter
10.44am: The BBC’s Andrew Harding tweets:
I can hear major bombardment in Abidjan. Has Gbagbo been haggling as well lengthy in his bunker? Country badly requirements relaxed ending to this.
10.41am: Fabrice Zagbayou, a Gbagbo supporter and home business analyst from Abidjan, says he fears for his life while in the current assault.
Zagbayou, an lively Twitter user inside town, informed the Guardian:
Laurent Gbagbo won the election. We don’t need to have bombing, we don’t have to have yet another leader. The French army bombed civilians, the French army bombed the president. This is not democracy. It is actually not acceptable.
Sounding shut to tears he extra:
“The French army say they would like to secure Abidjan. It can be wrong. It’s incorrect. We feel they’re going to kill Laurent Gbagbo. Ouattara militia and French troops are shooting now. I’m afraid for my daily life. I’m afraid that in case the Ouattara militia uncover me they will kill me.”
A French federal government spokesman has mentioned French forces usually are not participating in on-the-ground fighting throughout the presidential residence, based on Reuters.
10.36am: Forces loyal to Ouattara have stormed the palace exactly where Gbagbo is sheltering in a very bunker, a spokeswoman for the forces told Reuters. Affousy Bamba stated:
Indeed they (Ouattara forces) are inside procedure of entering the residence to seize Gbagbo, they have not taken him yet, but they are from the method, they can be in the making.
ten.22am: There is a beneficial Q&A on the crisis by Richard Downie, deputy director of the Africa programme at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic International Studies.
His answer on what happens next is most pertinent:
By holding out for so extended, Gbagbo has lost any right to negotiate the terms of his exit. In an ideal scenario, he should prepare for a trip to the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutors have been closely monitoring events in Côte d’Ivoire. It remains to become seen whether a different African region might help him escape this fate by offering him a quiet exile.
President Ouattara faces the formidable challenge of healing a deeply divided country in which a sizeable minority openly inquiries his right to govern. Having been denied his right to win control with the nation through the ballot box, he has ultimately claimed it by force. The heavy fighting of your previous few days has led to excesses by both sides in the conflict. The FRCI has been accused through the Worldwide Committee of the Red Cross of currently being involved in a massacre inside the town of Duékoué, even though Ouattara strongly denies this claim. In addition, the incoming president will inevitably face the politically damaging claim that he was propelled to power from the French, Côte d’Ivoire’s previous colonial masters. A
All of these factors dent Ouattara’s credibility. For these reasons, his main priority on taking office might be to promote national reconciliation. Ouattara will have to have to act with restraint toward individuals who opposed him and would be advised to reach out to his erstwhile enemies by including some of the more moderate Gbagbo loyalists in his federal government. There remains cause for wish despite the challenges. Ivoirian political leaders have shown an impressive capacity to patch up their differences from the past; those skills might be needed again inside the coming weeks and months.
10.08am: The Guardian’s stringer, Selay Koussi, says gunfire has restarted in Abidjan after the FRCI, the pro-Outtara forces, announced that they will “take Gbagbo from his bunker where he’s hiding”.
They can be heading into the presidential palace.
It appears that they have lost patience with attempts to negotiate Gbagbo’s surrender.
10.01am: The Guardian’s Africa correspondent David Smith are going to be taking part inside of a Q&A within the feedback section below at 1pm.
- You may be interested in finding out more about the two sides from the conflict, tribal allegiances, their culpability for war crimes.
- Or you may be interested inside the worldwide aspects with the conflict, the role of the UN and/or France and the scope the crisis has to affect other nations while in the region.
- Alternatively, you may have concerns about the humanitarian cost of the crisis.
Simply post your question from the remarks segment and David will try to respond.
9.51am: Gbagbo is resisting pressure from the United Nations and France to sign a document renouncing his claim to power, in yet another setback to hopes that he will leave office imminently, Reuters reviews.
From his bunker where he’s surrounded by troops loyal to Ouattara, Gbagbo advised French Radio RFI right now:
We are usually not in the negotiating stage. And my departure from the place? to go in which?
But Gbagbo government spokesman Ahoua Don Mello, who was taking part in negotiations, informed Reuters the parties are nevertheless in talks. He stated:
“Some points are nevertheless staying discussed. Nothing has been signed, Gbagbo has not signed anything.”
9.47am: There exists serious gunfire around Gbagbo’s residence, France 24 is reporting, citing witnesses. No further details are actually offered.
9.17am: Gbagbo’s refusal to surrender is prompting fears of more violence in Abidjan, our stringer from the metropolis, Selay Koussi, reports. (You can find brief echo on the line at first however it gets better).
The area is quiet, nevertheless it is not safe because you some have militia men that are however faithful Mr Gbagbo who ransacking shops and supermarkets.
Many many families are running out of basic foodstuffs and water.
Many many people think that the UN and French forces again might restart the bombing to set pressure on him [Gbagbo] to relinquish power. Many people were disappointment that he mentioned he was not going to recognise Mr Ouattara because the victor from the election. I’m afraid that if French troops and UN forces use helicopters and start firing rockets at the bunker of Mr Gbagbo the violence will raise again. People are pretty angry throughout Abidjan. They assume that Mr Gbagbo is playing a nasty game with the global community. They consider he’s trying to get time to escape.
This day is extremely crucial. If nothing is done inside upcoming 24 several hours the population might go on into the streets because they are running from basic foodstuffs and water. This might bring the nation on the verge of the two chaos and collapse.
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9.01am: The Guardian has a story up about Gbagbo’s denial that he is preparing to surrender. He informed French news channel LCI:
I won the election and I am not negotiating my departure. I come across it absolutely incredible that the entire world is playing this … game of poker.
He also insisted he had no intention of currently being a martyr:
“I’m not a kamikaze. I love daily life. My voice just isn’t the voice of a martyr, no, no, no, I am not looking for death. It’s not my aim to die.”
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8.56am: With most people assuming Gbabgo’s surrender is only a matter of time, attention is turning to what will take place after his departure. On Comment is Free, Adekeye Adebajo, director of the Centre for Conflict, writes that both equally sides have a case to answer:
Each sides have already been accused of committing atrocities. Gbagbo and Ouattara must thus be set on notice that they’re going to be held accountable for war crimes committed by their fighters. The financial and travel sanctions recently imposed by the UN on Gbagbo, his Lady Macbethian wife Simone, and other associates, should also be extended to other peace “spoilers”.
French troops must do more than just protect the airport in order to evacuate western nationals in however yet another example of an “aristocracy of death”, in which the lives of foreigners are deemed to become worth more than these of Africans. In addition, genuine suspicions persist about the stance adopted by pro-Ouattara France, whose previous self-interested interventions in Africa, and continuing support for local autocrats, cast the Gallic power within the role of a fox guarding a hen-house.
Adebajo also says other African nations have an important part to play in post-Gbagbo reconciliation:
Nigeria and South Africa must use their presence about the UN protection council effectively to help craft a peaceful outcome. The African Union should help to negotiate a safe exit for Gbagbo and press Ouattara to bring in his rival’s supporters into any future government. Nigeria, South Africa and Angola must speak with one voice to ensure that any agreement sticks.
8.46am: France’s armed forces chief Edouard Guillaud has told Europe 1 radio that Gbagbo is negotiating his surrender - the president has denied he’s doing so - and could quit office in “a matter of hours”. He mentioned:
They (negotiations) continued through the night but unfortunately I see no breakthrough for now. Despite that, I believe it truly is a matter of several hours, probably during the day.
Guillard also explained strikes against Gbagbo’s camp could resume at the request in the United Nations and if he continued to refuse to step down.
Earlier, the French foreign minister, Alain Juppe told France Info radio the only thing left to discuss with Gbagbo was his departure. Juppe stated:
“This obstinacy is absurd. Gbagbo has no future henceforth. Everybody’s dropped him. He’s holed up in his residence. While using United Nations, that’s in the helm, we are going to continue to exert pressure on him to face up to reality.”
8.36am: As the standoff at the presidential palace continues, the pro-Ouattara television station TCI has been putting pressure on Gbagbo/mocking the incumbent president by playing extracts from Downfall, the film about Adolf Hitler’s final days in his bunker in Berlin.
How extended will it be before someone creates a Gbagbo-inspired parody of the famous scene the place Hitler launches into a furious tirade upon finally realizing that the war is truly lost?
8.23am: Good morning. Welcome to reside coverage of events inside the Ivory Coast. Here’s a summary on the latest developments:
• President Laurent Gbago remains holed up in a very bunker with his family members and a handful of supporters at his palace in Abidjan. Forces loyal to his rival, Alassane Ouattara, surrounded his dwelling on Tuesday after UN helicopters attacked Gbagbo’s arms stockpiles and bases.
• Gbago’s spokesman, the UN and the French have all claimed that the incumbent president is negotiating his surrender. However, in a very telephone interview with French news channel LCI, the incumbent president insisted “no decision has but been taken”.
• A ceasefire declared by Gbagbo’s generals in Abidjan yesterday appears for being holding, though the UN says there has been “sporadic shooting” by gangs of youths not allied to either the incumbent president or his rival.
• There are fears of a humanitarian crisis with people confined to their houses by the fighting. Food, medical supplies and water are all in short supply in Abidjan. Many people are also without electricity. There have also been armed, xenophobic attacks against west African nationals and Malian migrants, with guns and knives.
