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Côte d'Ivoire Crisis

Genesis of the Crisis

In December 1999 there was a mutiny by disgruntled rank and file soldiers just back from a United Nations Peace Mission in the Republic of Central Africa. General Gueï took advantage of this mutiny and took power in a bloodless coup on December 24, 1999 in what some described as "a gold platter offer".

What was seen as simple mutiny by rampaging and looting soldiers rapidly transformed into a coup d'état. President Henri Konan Bedié was overthrown and he flew to exile in France. In order to buy the confidence of, and entice the young soldiers, Gen. Gueï gratified them with underserved promotions and benefits. He went on to recruit about 700 young soldiers.

After losing an election to Laurent Gbagbo, General Gueï attempted to falsify the elections by using the power of incumbency. The General's electoral coup attempt failed as incessant street demonstrations forced him to renounce his claim to victory. Laurent Gbagbo was declared winner and sworn in constitutionally as the third president of Côte d'Ivoire.

President Gbagbo's resolve to cleanse the Ivorian public service of all vices and irregularities (and perhaps settle scores) culminated in the decision to demobilize Gen. Gueï's recruits by December 2002. Interpreted by many as another slap on Gueï's face, this was apparently a humiliation neither he nor the controversial recruits were ready to take, especially in this region of Africa where being a soldier is not only a source of pride, but carries an aura of authority, immunity and power.

The general socio-political atmosphere in Côte d'Ivoire has been boiling despite the following measures meant to lessen tension:

• A Forum on National Reconciliation largely hailed as successful
• The formation of a Government of National Unity, regrouping the major political formations in the country, including the Rassemblement de Républicains (RDR) of Alassane Ouattara, Parti Démocratique de Côte Ivoire (PDCI) of Henri Konan Bédié, and Gen. Gueï's Union pour la Démocratie et pour la Paix en Côte d' Ivoire (UDPCI)

Unfortunately, the still unresolved structural issues that rocked the country's foundation and nearly resulted in a civil war beginning 1999 are once more resurfacing. They could best be described as the accelerators of the Ivorian conflict.

The problem of the Ivoirité concept (who is the authentic Ivorian and who is not) is still rife and conflicts between indigenes and settlers persist as the controversial land law of 1998 proves difficult to implement.

Most of all, the apparent Ivorian conception that all evil perpetuated in the country comes from "abroad" has helped to alienate "stranger community", causing a climate of suspicion with neighbours. Relations with Burkina Faso with a resident of population of close to 3 million in Côte d'Ivoire have particularly been strained. Burkinabes have been accused of swelling the votes of opposition candidate and political rival Alassane D. Ouattara since the Presidency of Bédié.