http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ivory-coast-fighters-descend-on-main-city-for-final-push-to-unseat-entrenched-ruler/2011/03/31/AFNySu7B_story.html?hpid=z2
Alassane Quattara won the Ivory Coast's race for the presidential election last fall by the country's election commission in results verified by national observers. However, the previous president, Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept the loss and has used the military to attack pro-Ouattara areas with heavy-artillery and is accused of arming citizen militias and recruiting foreign mercenaries to defend his grip on power. Nearly 500 people (mostly supporters of Quattara) have been killed since the election. Quattara.
Rebels and supporters of Quattara gave Gbagbo an ultimatum, surrender peacefully or they will begin fighting in Abidjan, eventually to reach the presidential palace with the use of force. For over 3 months Quattara refused his rebel forces to march on Abidjan, however, this advance is seen as the resort since all other diplomatic means had failed. Quattara had won the election with over 54% of the vote and did not want to be seen as having taken the country by force, but now it is inevitable.
Erin Higgins
TA: Armel, Friday 1-1:50
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ReplyDeleteIt's interesting some of the feedback that this move has gotten from the international community. Some are criticizing Ouattara for his resorting to violence, but his proponents counter by saying that he HAS done everything humanly possible before resorting to violence.
ReplyDeleteOn a possibly related note, Hersheys has announced a 9% increase in the price of chocolate. I'm assuming that this is a result from the squeezing of cocoa supplies from the Ivory Coast from the ban against ivorian exports to limit cash flow to Gbagbo.
Hugh Vondracek
Armel @1