AU boss mediates Ivory Coast standoff

  1. Posted on Tuesday 25 January 2011 - 11:36
    Mtheto Lungu
    Image of Mtheto Lungu
    Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
    African Union (AU) chairperson Bingu wa Mutharika has flown to Ivory Coast on Tuesday to mediate between rivals - embattled president Laurent Gbagbo and world acclaimed winner of the November 2010 presidential run-off elections Alassane Ouattara. His trip aims to find a lasting solution to the face-off.
    mutharika
    The two rivals have formed parallel governments. Ouattara is believed to have won the polls over veteran Gbagbo – who is clinging to power despite wide spread criticism and calls for him to relinquish power.

    Early this year Mutharika said Gbagbo should peacefully and with dignity stand aside, make way for Ouattara to take over. The AU, alongside the European Union (EU), ECOWAS, and the world body United Nations (UN) have all asked adamant Gbagbo to leave.

    Ouattara is holed up in a hotel in the capital Abidjan protected by UN peacekeeping troops and the army loyal to Gbagbo has tried to shake up things by showing signs of aggression, sometimes led by loyalist youth groups.

    Mutharika will then proceed to Northern and Southern Sudan to meet both President Al Bashir and his deputy Salva Kiir after a successful secession of the south from one of Africa’s largest countries in a landmark referendum early this month.

    South Sudan overwhelmingly voted to become a separate country, the world’s latest addition.

    An official announcement on public broadcaster monitored by AfricaNews also added Mutharika will then proceed to attend the 15th Ordinary Session of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will also handover AU chairmanship. The summit theme is: ‘Towards Greater Unity and Integration through Shared Values’.

    Mutharika, who took over the continent’s mantle from controversial Libyan leader Muammar Ghadaffi, will however continue to serve as a rapportuer for the continental body for another year.

    Most Ivoirians have lost their lives including policemen as the two sides continue to juggle over leadership – leading to the failure of AU sanctioned mediator and Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, giving up reconciliation efforts. Ouattara says he cannot allow for a government of national unity and that he would however allow Gbagbo to leave the leadership and country honorably.

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