The reconciliation process in Ivory Coast face a bumpy road ahead, a few days after former President Laurent Gbagbo was taken into custody at the ICC, in The Hague, on charges of crimes of war and crimes against humanity. - Shock and anger have gripped FPI, the Ivorian Popular Front, which announced its withdrawal from electoral race and reconciliation process, as a result of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) warrant for Gbagbo’s arrest and transfer to The Hague. "The FPI notes with regret the partiality of the judicial process undertaken by the International Criminal Court prosecutor and which ended up with Gbagbo’s transfer to The Hague. What we are witness…

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. - 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 …

Laurent Gbagbo and Simone Gbagbo, the former Ivory Coast president and his wife who were under house arrest in Korhogo and Odienne repectively, since April have been charged on Thursday, with "economic crimes (including) aggravated theft, attacks on the national economy, embezzlement of public funds, pillage". - Gbagbo’s lawyers have been criticizing the former strongman’s poor conditions of detention. Habiba Toure, one of Gbagbo’s lawyers, told the press that as a former head of state, Gbagbo was entitled to special procedures and could not be charged in the regular manner, as the prosecutors had done. Lawyers for former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo ha…

Getting a simple drink of water in the northern part of Côte d'Ivoire, commonly known as Ivory Coast in English, still is a big problem and drilling water wells by hands is part of the alternative solution. The water problem in the country has led Meite Coulibaly, a brilliant student, to drop out of school and drop into life. Meite has 'sacrificed' his life to help save thousands of others; he has become a water well digger. - The water crisis is a growing problem in Ivory Coast since the September 2002 coup attempt that split the country into two and paved the way to war. People still do not get more than half the water they need. The problem with drinking water supplies …

As Ivory Coast slowly resumes cocoa exports after a three month hiatus, the legacy of its brutal post-election violence is coming to light. In Yopougon, a suburb of Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan, Losseni Foumba recalls how he organised football matches on a sandy patch of land. With the rains now moving the loose sand, he made a macabre discovery -- the football pitch is now a mass grave. - "The bodies of people who were buried on this soccer pitch were not entombed deep in the earth. They were just covered with sand," Foumbe said. "Our sons would hit human skulls instead of the soccer ball," he lamented. "This is where our kids used to imitate …

Many people will be surprised to know that Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo is very religious. In the weeks leading up to Gbagbo's capture, the Ivorian crisis took on an unprecedented religious flavour. The slightest unusual occurrence was interpreted as a message from God to the Ivorian people; a god on Gbagbo's side, guaranteeing his victory. - Prophets’ connection with politics…When it all began In 2002, at the early stages of the Ivorian crisis, evangelists, reverends, so-called prophets and apostles had emerged on the Ivorian political scene and prophesised the end of the conflict in no more than three months. However, the conflict persisted but the prophets va…

A page in the history of Ivory Coast has been turned. There is now only one president and his name is Alassane Ouattara. After clashes between pro-Gbagbo and pro-Ouattara forces and after the capture of Gbagbo and his followers, public opinion in Ivory Coast is focused on hope for a new beginning and concerns about the challenges of social reconstruction. - The announcement of Gbagbo’s arrest “The nightmare is over for Ivorians”, Ouattara’s defense minister and prime minister Soro Guillaume told journalists in the conference room of the Golf Hotel (Headquarters of Ouattara’s government), to loud cheers from Ouattara’s supporters in the audience. G…

As the battle for Abidjan, Ivory Coast, seems to come to an end, people who have been barricading in at home since weeks and who experienced the longest and hectic night of April 4th, now yearn for a quick return to normal life. - One of the darkest pages of the post-electoral violence episode has just been written in the history book of Ivory Coast, with the bombing of heavy weaponry and military bases under the control of pro-Gbagbo forces in Abidjan, on Monday April 4th. Fighting has already died down in the economic capital Abidjan on Tuesday amid rumours Gbagbo was negotiating to surrender. But Ivorians will remember the hectic bombing that happened during the night of April 4th. …

The Guro women are the invisible arms helping Ivory Coast at their own level to stay away from hunger. Without an academic education and braving a growingly difficult environment marked by violent political crisis, those anonymous heroines continue to ensure food security in the West African country. - The women who have a monopoly on the growing and trading of food crops in Ivory Coast are from the Guro tribe in the western part of the country. It is a region that has a high illiteracy rate and where families prefer to educate boys over girls. Almost all of the Guro women seem to have the same track record. They attended only primary school and that is if they are lucky. So, most of them…

While economic pressure increases on Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, AIDS and cholera patients in the country are concerned about the consequences of the breach of drug supply and absence of alternative solutions to their delicate health situation. - "I was surprised to learn from the DPM (Department of Pharmacy and Medicines) that our pharmacies are almost empty; within the next two months we won’t have any medicine," Dr. Christine Adjobi, Gbagbo’s government minister for the Fight against AIDS, said a couple of days ago on national television. This is a consequence of the EU embargo on the country's ports. Ivory …

Ouattara supporters are accusing the international community of double standards by reacting swiftly to protect civilians in Libya while doing little to end abuses in Ivory Coast. "Why Libya and not Ivory Coast?" wonders Jacqueline N'Guessan, a pro-Ouattara female leader who decries "United Nations' laxity in action against human rights abuses and the murders committed by Gbagbo camp." - Jacqueline ccharges the international community and the UNOCI, the United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast, with watching while hundreds of people were murdered by Gbagbo supporters in the West African country since the disputed November 28 election”. Pégabila Silué, the …

Speculations on the forthcoming meeting of the African Union's Peace and Security Council that is suppose to announce "binding decisions", has fueled debates in the camps of Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo, the co-claimants of Ivory Coast presidential seat. - The African Union high-level panel tasked with finding a peaceful way out of the political stalemate in Cote d’Ivoire has summoned Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo to attend the African Union’s Peace and Security Council meeting slated for Thursday, March 10, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ivory Coast’s internationally-recognized President Alassane Ouattara said he agreed to participate in this pa…

The upsurge of urban guerilla that has broken out in Abidjan and in the western region of Ivory Coast may augur a return to civil war in the West African cocoa-rich country. Heavy fighting occurred between FDS (pro-Gbagbo security forces) and an mysterious combat unit, calling itself "the invisible commando", in the working-class district of Abobo (a Ouattara stronghold, in the north of Abidjan) early this week, as the AU panel stepped up efforts to break the impasse over the country disputed election. - Many residents have been fleeing with their belongings as the fighting intensified. "There are ongoing clashes with heavy weapons in Abobo and the closest district of Anyama…

There still is big commotion at the moment inside the political parties of embattled president Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, regarding the results of the ECOWAS (the West African regional bloc) mediation. But, on the streets of the Ivorian capital Abidjan and across the country it is a different story, since Ouattara's strike call. - 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. …

Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara called for a month-long ban on cocoa exports from Ivory Coast, the world's largest producer of cocoa beans. Since, the cocoa industry in the West African nation is split over whether to heed the call. - Ouattara’s cocoa exports ban, which came into force on January 24th and which is supposed to end on February 23rd, was designed to heap more pressure on President Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to cede power after disputed elections in November. This ban is the latest in a string of measures – including international travel bans and asset freezes on Gbagbo and his allies – aimed at forcing Ivory Coast’s strongma…

With its many impressive twists, the ongoing Ivorian drama is looking more like a Hollywood thriller; one where two protagonists, Laurent Gabgbo and Alassane Ouattara, play first hand roles and a pivotal one played by the media. An ambivalent role between 'misinformation' and 'propaganda.' - Ivory Coast local press is so abundant and diverse that the readers are overwhelmed by the many choices of publications. And the contradicting headlines feed day-long debates among the ‘titrologues’. "Titrologue" The word ‘Titrologue’ was coined from a popular French saying in Abidjan. It refers to readers who are very passionate about printing…

As incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has been denied access to Ivorian state funds by top officials of UEMOA (the West African Monetary Funds) who recognize Alassane Ouattara as the "rightful president", there is intensified talk fuelled by staunch allies of Gbagbo and state-run media that Ivory Coast could pull out of the CFA franc zone and set up its own currency. - There are actually two separate CFA francs in circulation. The first CFA is that of the UEMOA (the West African Economic and Monetary Union) and the second is that of the CEMAC (the Central African Economic and Monetary Community). In West Africa, Ivory Coast shares the CFA currency with seven other Francophone co…

"Yapi N'cho Didier's boldness might provoke an outstanding upheaval in the IT world. His daring inventions are a strong signal for Africa and for the whole world. I think African decision-makers and governments should pay a particular attention to this researcher who could be the next Bill Gates", confesses Dr. Conrad Kruz, Synesis IT Consulting, an IT Science Consulting bureau located in the US. - IT users, professionals and amateurs can breathe a sigh of relief! They will have very soon in their hands ‘The Mouse Mystery 7’, ‘DVD Dead Cryptor’, ‘DCE-Dead Cryptor Email’, ‘Mezo Webcam’, ‘CN.Lov’… all revolut…

Théophile Kouamouo, the Editor-in-chief of the Ivorian daily 'Le Nouveau Courier' and three of his collaborators are being held in detention at the headquarters of Ivorian judiciary police section in Abidjan, after publishing the results of the investigation carried out by the Prosecutor about alleged fraud and embezzlement in Cocoa and coffee sector. - In late 2007, as an allegation of fraud and embezzlement in the cocoa and coffee sector fueled debates throughout the whole country, the President of the Republic, Laurent Gbagbo, requested to Raymond Tchimou, the Prosecutor, to investigate that sector in order to find out the truth. The Prosecutor conducted a series of investi…

As the Soccer City Stadium switched off its lights after the last whistle of the 2010 World Cup on July 11, football fans and sport analysts ponder over some questions: Will the 2010 FIFA World Cup benefit South Africa? Will this benefit filter down to middle-class South Africans and people living in impoverished townships? - Selay Marius Kouassi, AfricaNews reporter, investigates into these from Tokoza, one of the poorest townships and the former stronghold of the ruling African National Congress fighters, in the outskirts of Johannesburg. The South African government invested billions of Rands [the official currency] into the construction of fancy stadiums and other sport facilities to…

Love it or hate it the vuvuzela is still roaring in South Africa as Africa host its first ever World Cup in over eight decades. AfricaNews' Ivory Coast correspondent Selay Marius Kouassi is currently in Johannesburg, South Africa and shares these wonderful pictures with our readers to have a feel of what the global football fiesta is all about. - Enjoy them below.

- In the wake of the dispute over an alleged voter list fraud opposing the presidential camp and opposition parties, President Gbagbo announced, on Friday 12nd February, in a speech broadcast on the national television, the dissolution of the government and the electoral commission (CEI), on the basis of the provisions of Article 48 of the Ivorian Constitution. How was the atmosphere in Abidjan following this unexpected decision? How did opposition leaders respond to this unexpected decision? On Friday 12nd, at 4pm, I was coming out Kenya Airways office in Plateau District, at the heart of Abidjan, when my phone rang. ‘Where are you Selay? A member of the president cabinet just rang…

The biggest second hand market - 'Adjame Black Market' - in Abidjan, the capital city of Ivory Coast, was razed down early Saturday morning at about 5:00 am causing extensive damage to hundreds of shops where you can get textiles, clothes, computers, Freezers, mobile phones, building materials, carpentry and handcrafts. - It is a sight visited daily by residents of Abidjan and visitors to purchase items that are to be found in this place only from the Western countries. Our reporter said authorities in Abidjan have given no concrete reason for the cause of the fire, which started in one of the stores at the center of the market believed to be containing high flammable materials.…

A cross section of Ivorians strongly believe their neighbours Ghana will taste their fifth African title in Sunday's clash against Egypt. - "The final Ghana vs Egypt will be a thriller, I trust the Black Stars who have demonstrated that it takes much more than mere talent and experience to win football matches. They play with their heart, see how they played to reach this final stage, they will pick this cup’ said Ludovic Ayegbo, the coach of ‘Etoile FC’, an U-2O football team of Abobo District in Abidjan, when asked who he thinks would win Sunday’s final match. A day before the kick-off, this much-awaited football game and its outcome still fuel debates …

The President of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo has signed a pardon decree to free about 100 female prisoners in the West African country. - The governor of the MACA prison in Abidjan told ‘Notre Voie’, a daily closed to the ruling FPI party that this decision should be regarded as a strategy for demarcations and a way to prevent crime among female inmates, resulting from over population.The pardon decree has been welcomed and acclaimed by many Human Rights and gender equity activists in Abidjan, the capital city of the country. Kouao Lucie, Member of AFJCI, the Ivorian female lawyers association and co-founder of APROGED, one of the leading gender equality-oriented NGOs of the count…

Cosmetic products supposed to bleach the dark skin have found an ever-growing market on the Ivorian Market. - This skin-bleaching phenomenon is affecting lots of women of different social classes, especially the young, unmarried and educated women. Why have these women become ‘miracle creams’ addicts? Our reporter from Ivory Coast Selay Marius Kouassi finds out more.

Second-hand goods - cloth, electronic gadgets and home appliances - are selling like hot cake in Ivory Coast in this time of global economic crisis. At 'Black' - the second hand market - Ivorians are trooping there because the goods are cheaper than those in the main stores. - ~~~~~~~~~~~~Selay Marius reports from Abidjan~~~~~~~~~~~~

The European Champions League trophy is on a-three nation tour in Africa. The first stop on this three-nation tour with the club's African players was at Ivory Coast. Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure was greeted by crowds of people in Ivory Coast's main city where he also met the president on Monday. - The trophy is also due to go to Mali and Cameroon, the other African nations to produce players who helped the Catalan club beat Manchester United last week. Many of Africa's top players play for top clubs in Europe while the game in their home nations struggles. "My next target is the continental trophy, the African Cup of Nations," Toure told reporters as he dedic…

World renowned music group "MAGIC SYSTEM" formed by four Ivorian youngsters returned to Anoumambo - the slum where they grew up to present a primary school as part of their plans to fight illiteracy. - Speaking to AfricaNews, Asalfo – one of the founders said their aim is to help the poor as well as empower parents to send their kids to school. To realize their dreams, he said the group has organized FEMUA, an international music festival, in order to raise funds to help local populations. Although members of the MAGIC SYSTEM are rich, popular and powerful as a result of their hit track - “Premier Gaou” - they have kept links with their home town. The 2nd edit…

Ivorian opposition journalist, Nanankoua Gnamantêh, has been charged for defaming the President Laurent Gbagbo and the ruling Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI) after he published 'ALI BABA et les 40 voleurs,' a 'spicy' article critical of the government. - The Public Prosecutor sued the journalist of ‘Le Nouveau Réveil’ Newspaper and author of ‘ALI BABA et les 40 voleurs’ for publishing what he described as defamation of President Laurent GBAGBO, Head of Ivory Coast State. Throughout this article, Nanankoua did not beat about the bush to reveals misbehavior and unfavorable facts about the government that prevent the development of the country. …

Victims of the 2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste rumpus are urgently crying for help after being neglected all these years. The deadly chemicals were dumped in Abidjan by the Probo Koala. This caused many problems including people getting strange diseases. The victims want authorities expedite action. - Ten people died and more than 100,000 sought medical treatment after hundred of tons of waste was offloaded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This happened on August 19, 2006, from a Vessel chartered by the Dutch commodities trading company, Trafigura Beheer BV. Tommy, an Ivorian company, loaded the waste on special trucks and dumped it at several sites around the city, in some places just yard…

Video games in Abidjan are becoming more and more popular especially among children. Each street corner has a game house and the owners say the business is booming - ‘You can earn a living with it’, says the manager of the Cocody Entertainment centre. He says that about 100 people come every day and that football is the most popular game. Despite the positive side of video games, many other drawbacks are reported. They include disinterest in schooling and other important activities.

Over two years after the dumping of deadly chemicals in Abidjan by the Probo Koala, the victims are losing hope and calling for urgent help to alleviate the strange diseases they got. - Jules Dekagnan's wife is complaining of a throat disease and needs about €1000 to have his wife's case examined by doctors. She only received €300 in 2006 and is waiting for miraculous intervention from good-hearted people.

- On Wednesday, May 21st 2008, the world has watched a great soccer spectacle; the champions’ league final match opposing Chelsea FC to Manchester United. The game was there to be won for both teams fighting for Europe’s soccer elite trophy. Manchester United beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw. Kalou and Drogba families in Abidjan have spent an eventful evening that day. Manchester United and Chelsea FC offered a good soccer spectacle the evening of May 21st May. Ivorians felt honoured as two amongst the cream of their gifted soccer players, namely Salomon Kalou and Drogba Didier were on the spot. In Abidjan, the economic hub of Ivory Coast, shops started…

- IJahman Levi, the living figurehead of Reggae Music gave a high concert performance on Friday 2nd May 2008 at ‘Palais de la Culture’ in Abidjan, the economic hub of Ivory Coast. A day before this colourful performance, he has been welcomed by the President of the Republic, Mr. Gbagbo Laurent and the chairpersons of the trade unions and the political authorities gathered at the presidential palace for the celebration of the International Labor day. There, IJahman urged Ivorians to unite in order to give peace a chance and help the country comes out of the dreadful situation it is still living for almost eight years now. IJahman’s legendary chant ‘‘I’ve go…

- Mr. Yves Zogbo Junior has been living in exile for three years now. He currently lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a brief stay in Cotonou, Benin. He hastily left Ivory Coast, his home country, after a murder attempt by a mysterious commando at his home during a night. His bodyguard was deadly shot during this evening assault. For almost two decades, Yves Zogbo Junior has been a TV icon for his  “maestria” and for his high MC qualities.The announcement of Yves Zogbo Junior’s candidacy for presidential elections sounds like the entrance of an outsider horse in a long and difficult race. At the present time, Yves Zogbo Junior is the advisor of Joseph Kabi…

- On Saturday 12th April 2008, Ivorians were disappointed to learn that the international famous soccer player, Pokou Laurent, got beaten up by four policemen, a week ago, at a check point on one of the main roads leading to Abidjan, the economic hub of the country. This sad news spread out when the national TV channel showed the dishevelled face of this “soccer pioneer” with swellings. Pokou Laurent is a former international Ivorian soccer player, famous at home and abroad, and very often acknowledged as the “Ivorian soccer pioneer” when Drogba Didier is acknowledged as the “Ivorian soccer hero”. Pokou Laurent still was the best African striker (with 1…

- After a second day of violent protests against price rise, President Laurent Gbagbo cancelled custom duties and also cut taxes on basic household products to stabilize prices and prevent any similar protest. Violent demonstrations against the rising coast of living have shaken Abidjan, the economic hub of Ivory Coast these last two days, Monday 31st and Tuesday 1st April 2008. These demonstrations began to spread to the other towns of the country where populations also faced rising food prices. Yesterday morning, April 1st, at around 11.am, in an attempt to disperse the growing number of demonstrators who set up barricades and burned tyres to close major roads, the Anti-riot police f…

- On March 31st, about 15 people were injured in clashes during a demonstration against price rise. The protest came after rises in the price of staples such as rice, salt, sugar, oil, meat, and after the spicy speech that Konan Bedie, the ex-President of Ivory Coast delivered on March 29th. The incident happened after populations joined a spontaneous protest against steep price hikes in Abidjan, the economic hub of the country. Demonstrators, mainly composed of women, gathered and began to set fire to rubbish containers and tyres in the streets, in Yopougon, a quarter at the periphery of Abidjan and in Cocody, the residential area where the embassies have their sites and where the Pres…

- Ivory Coast's President Laurent Gbagbo and his Premier Soro Guillaume failed to respect the schedule set up within the framework of Ouagadougou Political Agreement which should normally pave the way to the presidential election pencilled for June 2008. As time is passing by, clamors become more and more audible. There is no doubt that the long postponed elections pencilled for June 2008 by the Ouagadougou Agreement will be delayed once more. The main opposition parties, PDCI and RDR, and some political analysts see behind this postponement an unveiled will of the ruling party (FPI) to organize electoral fraud and stay in power for a new term of office. This troublesome situation is…

- The disarmament issue in Ivory Coast has been and still is one of the toughest topics in the process of national reconciliation. When the former fighters hand over their weapons this will be an important step towards the organization of general elections scheduled for June this year. In the streets, in the offices and in the headquarters of political parties, all the discussions are centered on the disarmament issue; people are debating whether to disarm former fighters before or after the election normally due to June. The point of views of President Laurent Gbagbo and Soro Guillaume, the Prime Minister and former leader of the Forces Nouvelles (FN) and Henri Konan Bedie and Allassa…

- In February 2007, in Ouagadougou, President Blaise COMPAORE facilitated a talk between the Ivorian president GBAGBO Laurent and SORO Guillaume the Secretary General of the former rebel forces (Forces Nouvelles). This talk paved the way for Ouagadougou Agreement signed by both Laurent GBAGBO and SORO Guillaume on March 4th 2007. The preceding Peace Agreements and Talks: Lomé Talk (Togo), Marcoussis Peace Agreement (France), Pretoria I and Pretoria II Peace Agreements (South Africa), Accra I, II, II Peace Agreements (Ghana) and the various UN Security Council resolutions failed to pave the way for free and fair elections in Côte d'Ivoire. Ouagadougou Agreement and its additional c…

Since 1992, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) has undertaken many activities to guarantee free and fair and non violent elections in Côte d'Ivoire, but much remains to be done has little has changed. - Since its creation in 1983, the American based Non Governmental Organization NDI has contributed to the reinforcement and the development of democracy throughout the world and throughout Africa particularly. NDI has brought a significant and practical support to Ivorian political leaders and to the leaders of the organizations of civil society who works to establish democratic values in Côte d’Ivoire. Its activities in this country can be traced back …