The ECOWAS mediation

The three-member delegation from ECOWAS consisting of the Heads of State of Benin, Sierra Leone, and Cape Verde met with Gbagbo, Ouattara and Mr Choi, the Head of UN Mission in Abidjan on December 28. Rumours have been circulating across the West African country as nothing from these meetings has filtered down to the press.

Ivorians’ eyes are now turned towards Abuja in Nigeria where the ECOWAS is holding an extraordinary meeting with the three Heads of State who visited Ivory Coast on Tuesday. Another visit of the same three-member delegation from ECOWAS is due to the beleaguered West African country on December 30. Ivorians are impatient to see a quick denouement of the story.

Strike call

Ouattara’s parallel government has called a general strike across the country since Monday, December 27, to force the incumbent president to cede control. Three days after the call, the Ivorian capital Abidjan is living in slow motion: minimum service in public administration, scarce public transport mean deserted streets.

The transport union heeded to Ouattara’s government strike call coupled with their own strike call has gained much traction. Streets are still deserted this morning and Abidjan looks like a ‘dead city’ with no public transport. The strike is affecting people’s ability to get to work and there is a shortage of basic food stuff in shops now.

Inflation

Exploiting the situation and trying to make some quick cash, some traders have decided to increase prices of staple foods. Rice, sugar, oil, meat, corn, green beans, in short, everything has increased in the markets. Abobo, Yopouon and Adjame markets usually considered "accessible" and affordable are no longer so, to the dismay of workers with a lower income.


There is a rise in basic food prices, especially in the meat prices. Three days ago a kilo of meat that cost 1800 Fcfa (2,75 €), now costs 4000 Fcfa (6,1 €).

Stress

In the middle of this confusion, the people living in Ivory Coast are living under stress. The psychosis of an eruption of violence can be read on their faces, in their approach and their attitude.

The Ivorians and non-Ivorians living in the West African country are a mere shadow of themselves. Everybody seems to be in a rush. Since everyone is scared of not having enough food at home, shopping is done hastily. "This is a preventive measure!" says Lucas Kouao, an insurance executive coming out of a store, the cart loaded with supplies.