I Coast: Bumpy road ahead for truth commission

  1. Posted on Thursday 29 September 2011 - 11:10
    Selay
    Image of Selay
    Selay Marius Kouassi, Africanews Reporter, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
    The truth and reconciliation commission appointed by President Ouattara to heal wounds from the post-electoral violence which erupted months ago and help create national unity, has been inaugurated in Yamoussoukro (243 km from Abidjan), the political capital of Ivory Coast.
    Ouattara
    Violence erupted after former president Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after the international community recognized his opponent, Alassane Ouattara as the winner of the November poll. Fighting subsided only after Gbagbo was captured and his forces defeated.

    The commission, modeled on the South African panel of the same name which was founded after apartheid, has 11 members and id headed by former prime minister Charles Konan Banny. Other members include leaders of the Christian and Muslim communities and international football star Didier Drogba.

    The Commission has a two-year mandate to rebuild the country’s social fabric that has been damaged by the standoff and the violence that claimed 3.000 lives.

    It is seen by many as a way forward and an opportunity to close the most violent chapter in Ivory Coast history and a unique opportunity to regain economic growth and stability.

    But, the composition of the commission is not inspiring confidence among those people more naturally allied with former president Gbagbo who have been denouncing the regime of Ouattara and have been claiming the liberation of Gbagbo.

    Mr Gbagbo and his wife, Simone, dozens of pro-Gbagbo civil and military officials have been detained for ‘‘breaches of national security’’, and ‘‘economic crimes’’.
    The Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Gbagbo’s party has suspended its participation in all activities of the Independent Election Commission.

    The party of Gbagbo is denouncing the regime of President Alassane Ouattara and its refusal to engage in dialogue on the composition of the electoral body and more generally the preparations for the parliamentary election, to be held by mid-December.

    Laurent Akoun, the secretary general of the Ivorian Popular Front said Gbagbo’s party will not take part in these elections. With this, there is fear that political exclusion undermines the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s efforts to bring lasting peace to Ivory Coast.

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