Elfenbenskysten: Øget frygt for borgerkrig

Forfatter billede

Mens Elfenbenskystens præsident Laurent Gbagbo ignorerer sit valgnederlag og udnævner ny regering, isoleres han internationalt, og frygten for borgerkrig stiger, skriver Aljazeera net onsdag.

Fears are growing that Cote d’Iviore may return to civil war if the political standoff continues

Laurent Gbagbo, Cote d’Ivoire incumbent president, remains defiant in the face of growing regional and international pressure and has already named his new cabinet.

He also appointed a new prime minister on Tuesday, a move which comes as Ecowas – a regional body representing 15 West African countries – becomes the latest organisation to back Alassane Ouattara, the opposition leader, as the winner of the country’s disputed presidential election.

While Gbagbo has the support of the nation’s top legal body and the military, Ouattara has international backing and can count on the support of the New Forces fighters in the country’s north.

The European Union has also weighed in on the standoff, threatened on Monday to slap targeted sanctions against individuals in Cote d’Ivoire if the country fails to quickly resolve the political crisis.

Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, stressed that UN resolutions provide for sanctions “against those who obstruct the peaceful transition and the election,” said a European Commission spokeswoman.