Opposition leader wins Ivory Coast elections

  1. Posted on Thursday 2 December 2010 - 18:20
    KingsleyKobo
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    Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
    After four days of intense wait, Ivory Coast election commission (CEI) chairman Yousssof Bakayoko on Thursday evening announced provisional result of the country's November 28 run-off between incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara. Ouattara won with a score of 54%, while Gbagbo got 46%.
    Alassane Ouattara
    But the constitutional council, run essentailly by Gbagbo's men, needs to confirm the result in the days to come. The constitutional council chairman Yao N'Dri held a press conference moments before the announcement, during which he asked the election commission to transfer all partial results in its possession to the council for treatment, because the electoral commission was unable to release the result within the 3 days following Election Day as stipulated in the constitution.

    Observers say the constitutional council will likely annul the result in favour of Gbagbo following a complaint lodged by the ruling LMP party, accusing Ouattara's camp of "massive fraud" in rebel-held north.

    Fear and panic

    AfricaNews correspondent, Kingsley Kobo in Abidjan earlier on reported that many Ivorians are scared of an impending crisis. “The streets are half-deserted. Some few banks, insurance companies and super stores are open however, but many closed by midday due to the dusk-till-dawn curfew and mostly, the fear of danger.
    Where the danger will come from, when, from whom and how, nobody knows. But everybody on the street is sensing an impending chaotic situation. Even an explosion of a car tire can set multitudes running. Taxis and personal cars are scanty unlike normal days.”

    He said there are reports that there are no more cutlasses in the market and “that the northerners (favourable to Ouattara) have bought all the machetes and cutlasses set for battle against whoever kicks it off.”

    Kingsley Kobo add that: “the northerners and those from the central region (the Baoulés) tribe of former president Bédié) have united politically and this may happen too in case there is any street fighting. Both make more than 50% of the population, as opposed to Gbagbo's Bété tribe (16%), and supported by a two or three minority tribe.

    They may not be able to stand the northerners' coalition in terms of battle. So I feel this may even dissuade them from attempting anything.”

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