The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has expressed concern about the degeneration of the political and security situation in Cote d’Ivoire and called for a negotiated settlement approach around the principle of the respect of the will of the people.
“We are even more disturbed by the fact that the primary victims of the political impasse are vulnerable civilians, particularly women and children,” WANEP, an NGO in conflict prevention, said in a statement in Accra signed by Mr Emmanuel Bombande, Executive Director.
WANEP said it stood fully by the decision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United Nations in recognising veteran politician Alassane Ouattara as the winner of the election as announced by the Electoral Commission.
It commended their stance to sanction the illegitimate government of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and extend the mandate of UNOCI, the UN peacekeeping force.
WANEP said it deplored any armed or violent means that would continue to endanger the lives of civilians as a way to resolve the political crisis.
“We believe that ECOWAS has provided leadership in responding to the crisis. The sanctions from ECOWAS, the AU, the UN, the European Union, and the United States Government will have impact on the government of Laurent Gbagbo.
“These sanctions alone are not enough to pressure Laurent Gbagbo to relinquish power to the legitimate government of Alassane Ouattara and or safeguard the lives of innocent Ivorians.”
WANEP called on ECOWAS, the AU, La Francophonie, the UN, and the rest of the international community to, in addition to the sanctions, engage with Laurent Gbagbo and his key allies with a mediated and negotiated settlement approach around the principle of the respect of the will of the people of Cote D’Ivoire as expressed in the run-off elections on November 28.
“Such engagement should provide an exit strategy and bring about “face-saving” solutions towards Laurent Gbagbo’s peaceful exit.
“There is the immediate need to identify the power-brokers and conflict entrepreneurs within the Laurent Gbagbo camp and find peaceful avenues of addressing their fear and concerns.”
WANEP said interested stakeholders should be mindful of the fact that Laurent Gbagbo controlled the national armed forces, and other institutions of force and propaganda in Cote d’Ivoire.
“Besides, he had 46 per cent of the votes (according to the results of the Electoral Commission), meaning that there are millions of Ivorians supporting him. His supporters, especially the youths, led by Charles Ble Goude, Minister of Youth of Laurent Gbagbo’s Government, are ready to put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of their ‘president’”.
WANEP warned that consequently, the security situation would assume an ethno-regional and religious dimension with devastating consequences.
The NGO also warned that the destabilisation in Cote d’Ivoire would have serious security implications with regard to the fragile peace currently experienced in the countries of the Mano River Union hosting hundreds of yet-to-be integrated former warlords and their combatants.
WANEP called for a sustained mediated and negotiated settlement approach as non-violence means to resolve the political and security impasse in Cote d’Ivoire.
It also called for the creation of an International Mediation Team comprising the leadership of ECOWAS, the mediator of the Ouagadougou Political Accord, the Secretary General of the Francophonie, the President of the AU Commission, the UN Secretary General and the rest of the International Community to complement the sanctions regime with mediation and negotiation as an effective strategy to end the crisis peacefully.