Côte d’Ivoire: Toxic waste victims call for urgent help

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.

Overview of the story

Ten people died and more than 100,000 sought medical treatment after hundred of tons of waste was offloaded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 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 yards from residential homes, prompting whole neighbourhood to flee. A government commission investigated the cause of the deadly toxic waste scandal and accused some senior officials implicated in the affair. But, findings of the reports did not bring charges to bear on any of those accused within it. Demonstrators expressed their rage by burning tires. Many vehicles were set on fire by mobs who claimed justice and compensation. One month later, the Ivorian government hired a French company to dispose of the waste. The company moved the toxic waste out of the country. But, till now, many people still suffer from the dumping of the lethal ‘slop’.

Infringement of an international treaty

Côte d’Ivoire and Netherlands are signatories to the Basel Convention, an international treaty that seeks to limit the generation and transboundary movement of hazardous waste. However, the scandal occurred because of a manifest willingness to violate legal and regulatory institutions with the goal of serving personal interests. Actually, the former Ivorian Transport Minister, Kobenan Anaky, has granted the company Tommy and its partners a license to offload cargoes (from the vessel) without assessing their capacity and ability to do so. He also granted the company illegal authority to access ships at the port. Moreover, the company Tommy loaded the waste on special trucks and dumped it in the city under the escort of Ivorian armed forces, with the agreement of army officials. On the other hand, many Ivorian senior officials were aware that Tommy was dumping waste in and around Abidjan, rather than neutralizing it. These officials said they believed Tommy had the facilities to dispose of the waste legally.

Protests broken up by riot police

Few days after the dumping of the deadly chemicals, dwellers of waste dumping sites moved down the streets to claim for justice many times. Their protest was broken up by the riot police who fired tear gas and water cannon on the demonstrators, chasing them through the streets. Many demonstrators were injured and some were arrested by riot police.

The deal with Trafigura: a big rip-off

Two months later, Ivorian authorities started legal proceedings against Trafigura and three of its representatives in Côte d’Ivoire, three French citizens, were jailed in Abidjan. On February 13^th 2007, the Ivorian government set a private deal with Trafigura, the Dutch commodities trading company. In the name of this agreement, Trafigura paid 152 million Euros to the Ivorian government, and in return, Trafigura representatives previously jailed in Abidjan were released and the government stopped the legal proceedings against the Dutch company.

After the pact was made with Trafigura, Ivorian authorities organized a conference broadcast on the national TV channel and said the jackpot would serve three goals: a financial compensation for toxic waste victims to pay adequate treatment; the construction of factories specialized in the treatment of domestic waste; the payment for the service of the French company that disposed of the deadly chemicals. The French company got paid for its service, but till now, there are no obvious signs that a factory is being constructed and most of the toxic waste victims have not received the financial compensation.

A financial compensation too small to cure the diseases provoked by the deadly chemicals

Toxic waste victims registered at sanitary facilities received 300 Euros, a fair financial compensation for an adequate treatment. Jules Dekagnan, a dweller of Cocody Riviera, one of the suburbs where the deadly chemicals had been dumped tells his story: “[...] my wife got some problems and reported to Cocody Clinic for treatment. 4 months later, she received 300 Euros compensation, but till now, she still complains of pain in the throat and other parts of the body. Doctors said about 1000 Euros were needed for adequate treatment [...] we call on kind-hearted people for help. We have no one to turn to.” This story is the one of thousands of other victims whose voices remain unfortunately unheard. Mr Dekagnan is luckily still in good health but he has no one to turn to in order to alleviate the strange disease his wife has got.

Toxic waste victims seeking for an alternative justice

Adoni Yao, the Chairman of the national federation of the organizations of toxic waste victims said, as a last resort, its organization has hired a lawyer to start legal procedure against Trafigura and the Ivorian government.

In August 2008, 12 Ivorian officials have been arrested. Today, Monday September 29^th 2008, these officials are appearing before the court of appeal of Abidjan in a legal proceeding against those accused within the toxic waste scandal. However, the most worrying issue is to know what long term effects this disaster will have on the environment and on the future generations.

Selay M.K

Champions’ League Cup played in Moscow; Abidjan on the move

On Wednesday, May 21^st 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 21^st 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 to shut theirs doors two hours before the event, posters of the two prodigal sons could be seen everywhere, traffic jams with horns of cars and people comings and goings gave a festive and colourful picture to this evening…Nothing that one can put into words can express the fever that caught Ivorians that day. On the other hand, nothing that one can put into words can express the range of emotions that Ivorians supporting Chelsea FC, fans of Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba, and Kalou and Drogba families watching around the football event went through during this game. Nothing anyone can say or write will ever capture the celebration of the equalizer; no words can express the emotions of the crowd gathered at Kalou and Drogba’s homes during the drama of the penalty shoot-out. It was simply “great”.

Most of the interviewees predicted the victory of Chelsea FC over Manchester United and asserted that this final match was an opportunity for Chelsea to break out from the yoke of Manchester United. Then, they started to celebrate the victory of Chelsea before the beginning of the match. Kalou and Drogba families in Abidjan made no exception!

At 17:45 GMT, one hour before the starting of the match, the Drogba family has welcomed a crowd of kids and male and female adults who came to watch the match with the Drogba family on a high screen set up for the occasion. When the Slovakian referee Lubos Michel blew his whistle to let the match start, clamours raised from the crowd and Albert Drogba, Didier Drogba’s father and other members of the Drogba family clapped their hands.

The crowd gathered at Drogba’s felt sad and disappointed when Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first goal through header from Wes Brown’s cross 26 minutes after the beginning of the match. But Lampard scored the equalizer through an Essien pass just before the interval and the whole crowd was as caught by spasms, running here and there; some of the spectators embraced Albert Drogba, Didier Drogba’s father, and raised his hands up. The game was there to be won for both teams in normal time. During the interval the house got livelier with singing and dancing. During this while, Albert Drogba, the father of the international soccer player Didier Drogba was happy to answer to some of the questions we asked him. “I really didn’t expect to see my son Didier Drogba becoming a soccer player and reaching such a high level today. Yes, indeed, Didier Drogba has reached the top highest point of his carrier today…Actually, when I sent him to school, I expected that he become a lawyer or a doctor but not a soccer player. Today, Didier Drogba is showing that he is more useful as an international soccer player and his mother and I and the other members of the family are his very first supporters” asserted Albert Drogba.

The second half time was dramatic; Lampard and Didier Drogba hit the woodwork and when Didier Drogba was sent off four minutes from the end of extra time by the referee for slapping Vidic, the public started booing while Didier Drogba father’s held his head within his two hands. Then, the public claimed Kalou Salomon to come to Chelsea’s rescue. Chelsea coach Avram Grant, it seems, had heard the lamentations of the crowd; two minutes into extra-time, he made his first change, sending on Salomon Kalou for Florent Malouda. This change came as a breath of fresh air and sparked joyful and noisy celebrations in the crowd.

The second half time and the extra-time elapsed, letting the public and the members of the Drogba family disappointed, doubtful and with the fear of losing the European soccer elite trophy.

Some of the spectators, those who have no spirit to support such a decisive test, decided to leave the place when the soot-out started. When Terry missed the penalty that would have given Chelsea the trophy, some spectators started shouting while others broke down in tears. When Anelka’s shot was palmed away by Van der Sar, front side spectators collapsed in their chairs. The joyful ambiance was suddenly replaced with a mournful mood. As the crowd scattered around, people discussed the tactics of Avram Grant, besides, many persons who gathered behind Albert Drogba (the father of Didier Drogba) to watch the match said the coach of Chelsea should be considered as responsible for this defeat. Contrarily to the public opinion, Mr Kalou Senior, the father of Salomon Kalou did not blame the coach of Chelsea even if he asserted that he is disappointed: “I am disappointed because I didn’t expect to this result…but as I am not a soccer specialist, I can neither blame the coach for his tactics nor for his choices and changes.”

On May 21^st 2008, the people of Ivory Coast, the fans of Chelsea throughout the world and the players of Chelsea FC received a very bitter pill from Manchester United. That day, Manchester United was crown as King of European football after beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Despite this sad outcome, Ivorians still are celebrating their two prodigal sons, their soccer heroes: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.

Selay,
reporting from Kalou and Drogba’s homes in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Côte d'Ivoire: The Reggae Star IJahman sings for peace!

IJahman Levi, the living figurehead of Reggae Music gave a high concert performance on Friday 2^nd 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 got to carry Jah heavy Load’’ was sung by all these VIPs, gathered in that place, as a single chorus lead by the reggae star himself. IJahman has been congratulated by the President of the Republic and the all the representants of the salaried workers for his unrelenting struggle for Africans’ freedom.

JAH! Rastafariiii!

Selay MariusK.

Ivory Coast: a TV show presenter stands for presidential elections

Friday, April 18^th 2008, Yves Zogbo Junior, the famous Ivorian TV show presenter announces to AFP (the French leading press agency) his candidacy for the long-postponed presidential elections, finally due to November 30^th 2008.

Mr. Yves Zogbo Junior has been living into exile for three years now. He currently lives in Democratic Republic of Congo after a brief stay in Cotonou the economical and political hub of Benin. He hastily left Ivory Coast, his home country, after he missed being killed when he came under attack by a mysterious commando at his home during a night. His bodyguard was deadly shot during this evening assault. Throughout “hot corners” and “streets discussion places” in Abidjan, it is rumoured that Yves Zogbo Junior was assaulted because he embezzled a huge amount of money belonging to Charles Ble Goude, the leader of “Jeunes Patriotes”, a patriotic resistance movement. Yves Zogbo Junior denied this charge but the news about this embezzlement still run around, so why?

During almost two decades, Yves Zogbo Junior has been the cult TV show presenter. He was admired 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 Kabila, the President of Democratic Republic of Congo. He has been given the responsibility to supervise the “effectiveness of investments”. This new political position certainly permitted to Yves Zogbo Junior to get accustomed to political matters and to master the workings of politics either. When Yves Zogbo Junior was recently asked to elaborate on the reason of his sudden commitment into politics, he declared to a journalist of AFP: “My candidacy campaign for a return to values, a fair management of the resources of the Republic and for the respect of human rights in our country [Ivory Coast]”. Yves Zogbo Junior is certainly willing to stand for the presidential elections pencilled for November 30^th 2008, however, he still cast doubt on his return to Ivory Coast. “My bodyguard was deadly shot and I missed being killed […] you should understand that I will return when all will be safe and quiet there” he said.

The ex-President Henri Konan Bedie and the ex-Prime Minister Allassane Dramane Ouattara have already announced their candidacy for the coming presidential elections. Meantime, in an interview published by the French Newspaper “Le Monde” on Friday 18^th April 2008, President Laurent Gbagbo refused to say if he will stand for the presidential elections due to November 30^th or not. Bluff? Political strategy? Time will tell.

Selay M.K.

Côte d'Ivoire: soccer legend beaten

Cases of police misconduct are legion in Ivory Coast. Even significant ivorian figureheads are not safe from the misconduct of policemen in this country. Pokou Laurent, the former international Ivorian soccer player has experienced the brutality of ivorian police forces.

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 14 goals) the African Cup of Nations competition has never registered until the very last African Cup of Nations soccer competition hold in Ghana this year, 2008.

On April 6th, Pokou Laurent was like a toy in the hands of four policemen who beat him up. He missed being killed for no charge at all. At the check point, he was asked to get off his car and to show his ID card. He complied with this demand in a polite way. He thought that just after the regular check up, he would get the authorization to drive away. Unfortunately, as his attitude did not lend to the racket practice policemen are accustomed to, he got beaten up seriously. When he was asked to describe what happened to him, he himself asserted: “policemen said they would take my life off”.

Cases of police misconduct are legion in Ivory Coast. No one is safe from the misconduct of policemen in this country where police is almost lethal than the disease it pretends to cure.

Selay M.K.

Ivory Coast: Price Rise Riot: Laurent Gbagbo cancelled custom duties and cut taxes on staples

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 31^st and Tuesday 1^st April 2008. These demonstrations began to spread to the other towns of the country where populations also faced rising food prices.

Yesterday morning, April 1^st, 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 fired on protestors and gunn down the young demonstrator, SEA Abel, in Port Bouët Gonzagueville, a seaside suburb of Abidjan. The Anti-riot police also injured around 39 demonstrators and made many arrests.

The demonstrators started to confront Anti-riot police and ransack public buildings as the news about the assassination of the young demonstrator SEA Abel spread out.

In the afternoon, at 4.pm, the Secretary General of the Government, Tyeoulou Felix announced on the National TV Channel that the government has immediately decided to cancel custom duties on imported staples and cut taxes on the basic household products; rice, sugar, milk, fish, flour, oil, canned tomatoes, cement. He then begged the demonstrators to withdraw from the streets. On 8.pm, the President Laurent Gbagbo delivered a speech focussing the price rise issue aired on the National Radio and TV channels, RTI. He has appealed for calm and has invited the leaders of all the national consumers associations and the economic operators to a talk at the presidency.

No demonstration has been witnessed this morning in the streets, the concern of all the Ivorian citizens and non nationals living in Ivory Coast focuses the pending price stabilization discussions.

Selay M.K.

Côte d'Ivoire: Price rise riot : riot police in clashes with peaceful demonsrators

On March 31^st, 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 29^th.

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 President of the Republic and heads of the national and international institutions live as well.

At around 9.AM, demonstrators started to rise up stones and bricks roadblocks to disrupt the traffic. Battles broke out as riot police wearing gas masks and using batons and shields charged the areas where demonstrators had gathered and fired tear gas, rubber bullets, bullets and water cannon at the protesters. Police truck armed with water cannons sprayed the demonstrators while policemen wearing armor moved in formation down the streets firing smoke bombs.

This demonstration happened two days after the political meeting held by PDCI RDA, one of the main opposition parties, in Yopougon, the quarter where riot police started to clash with demonstrators. During this meeting, President Henri Konan Bedie, the former Ivorian President dismissed by the 1999 military coup has delivered a spicy speech, urging Ivorians to mobilize in order to get rid of the endless reign of the actual ruling party (FPI). “[…] we call on the international community, friends of Ivory Coast and all the witnesses of the current political situation […] to help Ivorians get rid of the present ruling party which is extending the duration of its terms office without the free consent of the people”.

It is important to recall that the presidential elections normally due to October 2005 have been postponed many times. These elections have finally been pencilled for June 2008 by Ouagadougou political Agreement. But, there is no doubt that these elections will be delayed once more.

The speech of the ex-President could have triggered the sudden uprising of the population. Unfortunately, riot police responded this peaceful demonstration using rubber bullets, real bullets, and made many arrests.

Selay M.K.

Côte d'Ivoire: Pro-governmental Militias: a Time bomb threatening the Peace Process

The Ivorian militiamen whom the leader describes as “a time bomb” threaten to block the peace process if the government does not keep its promise to give them a financial compensation.

On May 2007, in the presence of President Laurent Gbagbo and the Special Representative of UN Secretary General, Abou Mussa, five (5) pro-governmental militias: FLGO, APWE, UPERGO, MILOCI, gathered into a single armed unit name FRGO, under the leadership of Maho Glofléhi, set fire on 1027 weapons. This event was commented by many political analysts as the very beginning and promising disarmament process. 981 out of 2000 militiamen received each 1,000 US $. The disarmament process of these militias has not been heard of since.

The remaining 1,019 militiamen are still threatening dwellers of the western region of the country. They are also pestering their leader to get financial compensation for them and threaten to block the peace process as well. On addressing local journalists and journalists of AFP, the French Press Agency, on Friday 21^st March 2008, Maho Glofléhi, the leader of the western pro-governmental militias asserted: “ […] Until now, I have calmed down uprisings of the unhappy militiamen. I have now come to the point of exhaustion […] The 1,019 militiamen are intrepid fighters and still are a time bomb”. Maho Glofléhi called the government to keep its promise and provide the militiamen with financial compensation to prevent any sudden uprising.

Selay M.K.

Côte d'Ivoire: Compaore calls out Gbagbo and his Premier to respect the Electoral Schedule

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.

here 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 still fuelling political debates in the headquarters of political parties.

The facilitator of Ouagadougou Agreement, Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore, urges his Ivory Coast counterpart Laurent Gbagbo and the Ivorian Premier, Soro Guillaume to collaborate on the terms of Ouagadougou Agreement and respect the schedule and the deadline set up by the same Agreement. In a speech delivered on Friday 21^st March 2008, at the opening of the 4^th Session of the Supervising Committee of Ouagadougou Agreement, the facilitator said: “I call out all the actors of the identification and the electoral processes to strengthen their collaboration in order to respect the schedule and the deadline set up by Ouagadougou Agreement for each step of these processes”. Addressing President Gbagbo and his Premier, Compaore call them to respect their commitment to organize the presidential elections normally due to June 2008. He added that the coming month (April 2008) will determine if the schedule will be extend or not and that penalty charges will be applied to all those who thwart the implementation of the Ouagadougou Agreement and do not respect the schedule proposed by this Agreement.

Selay M.K.

Ivory Coast : Postponement of Elections Due to June 2008 : Who is to Blame ?

Ivorians have come to the exhausting point for the holding of the long-postponed elections. Voices have arisen both from inside and outside the country not only to call for free and fair elections but also to search the various causes that hinder the holding of such elections. However, the question remains.

The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), the National Statistics Institute (INS), the French technical Operator SAGEM, the popular opposition parties, President Laurent Gbagbo and his Premier Soro Guillaume, are accusing each other of the postponement of the presidential election in Ivory Coast. Each of these entities is an important actor of the electoral process and bears the responsibility for the successful holding of 2008 general elections. The postponement of these elections is still fuelling debates in the country.

SAGEM, the French Operator, hired by the Ivorian government to identify voters by the use of biometric data claimed up to 100,000,000 US $ to keep up the work. The government disagreed with this financial bid and dismissed SAGEM. Till now, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) is not through with the public hearings which are an important step towards the holding of the elections, mainly because of the strike of judges, attorneys and legal experts in charge of this operation, and because of the lack of financial means as reported by Beugre Mambe, the Head of the CEI. The Head of the National Statistics Institute (INS) asserts that its institute has faced many financial, logistic and administrative problems; among is the crafting of a reliable electoral listing. President Gbagbo and his Prime Minister Soro consider the leaders of the most popular opposition parties as responsible for the blockade that hinder the holding of free and fair elections in Ivory Coast. On addressing the populations of Beoumi, a town 30km far from Bouake, the hub of the former rebellion, Gbagbo warned the leaders of opposition against the Kenyan post-electoral violence syndrome: “Each candidate is claiming victory before the holding of the election [...] They are working to favor the birth of the kenyan post-electoral violence syndrome in this country. I keep these people responsible for what might occur after proclamation of poll results”. On the other side, the leaders of the opposition parties assert that Gbagbo will not willingly organize free and fair elections unless people coerce him to do so. Besides the leaders of opposition parties claim that President Gbagbo is using tricks to delay the date of the election in order to organize electoral fraud and stay in power for another term of office.

This gloomy political atmosphere seriously undermines the promising confidence that was born after the Ouagadougou Agreement and “the flame of peace” held in Bouake. Confidence is unfortunately giving place to mistrust. Meanwhile each political actor shifts the blame on the others.

Selay M.K.

COTE D’IVOIRE: Disarmament before or after Presidential Elections due to June 2008? The Question stands on.

The disarmament issue has been and still is one of the toughest issues in the process of national reconciliation and an important step toward the organization of general elections in Côte d’Ivoire. Ivorians are debating whether to disarm former fighters before or after the elections normally due to June 2008 and the question stands on.

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 2008.

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 Allassane Ouattara, the leaders of the main opposition parties are diametrically opposed. President Laurent Gbagbo and his Prime Minister Soro Guillaume are determined to carry out the disarmament operation till to its end before the holding of the long-postponed elections. Weapons have been assembled at disarmament sites and barracks, but the former fighters of both the governmental and rebel troops have not been disarmed yet. On the other side, Konan Bedie and Allassane Ouattara, assert that, though weapons have been assembled within barracks, President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro Guillaume are not willing to disarm their fighters and organize the elections in June 2008, as planned by Ouagadougou Agreement. Gbagbo and Soro Guillaume are suspected of using the disarmament as a pretext to delay the election once more in order to prepare electoral fraud. Konan Bedie the leader of PDCI-RDA and Allassane Ouattara, the leader of RDR, the main opposition parties said that full implementation of the peace agreement, including total disarmament of the Forces Nouvelles, is not necessary prior to the holding of the election normally due to June 2008. Pascal Affi N’guessan, the President of the FPI, Gbagbo's party, has said that disarmament must be completed before the election.

The question of disarmament stands on while Ivorians are waiting for pending elections.

Selay M.K.

COTE D’IVOIRE: President SARKOZY claims free and fair elections

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 4^th 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 clauses signed by President Laurent GBAGBO and the Prime Minister SORO Guillaume focus on the disarmament, the demobilization and the reintegration issues. This political agreement also focuses on the mobile courts’ process to issue birth certificate to people above 13 years old and who have never been registered at the Civil office.

The implementation of the additional clauses has been postponed many times and the population is still worrying about the credibility of the presidential election due later June 2008. This date will certainly be delayed once more and President GBAGBO sees no risk linked to this postponement. Speaking to ONUCI-FM (the radio station of the UN mission operations in Côte d’Ivoire) on March 4^th 2008, President GBAGBO said: “I am serene because I know that we are stepping towards elections, calmly […] We are working to organize presidential elections in June 2008, but if there is no election in 2008, there will be no death […] I we are not through with the organization of this elections, will just inform Ivorians that we are not through with electoral organization, and that’s all […]”.

President SARKOZY, who takes an interest in the Ivorian crisis since its very beginning, now claims free and fair election in Côte d’Ivoire and also the respect of the Schedule of this election as planned by the additional clauses of Ouagadougou Political Agreement.

During the conversation he has had with the facilitator Blaise COMPAORE, President of Burkina Faso, on Friday 7^th March 2008, President Nicolas SAZKOZY recalled that “it is essential that the electoral process in Côte d’Ivoire be credible. This credibility will depend on free and fair election”.

For the time being, Ivorians need disarmament and elections but there are fears that electoral fraud and protest might bring violent turmoil and upheavals in the country.

Selay M.K.

Libre Analyse de la Forte Présence Chinoise en Afrique

Depuis l'exploitation des réserves de mines de cuivre de Chambezi en Zambie jusqu'aux champs pétrolifères soudanais en passant par la production sucrière en Sierra Leone et l'exploitation des fermes zimbabwéennes, presque partout en Afrique, la présence chinoise se fait sentir et se fait voir.

Le Constat: L'activité chinoise fait florès en Afrique!

Aujourd'hui, presque chaque pays africain témoigne d'une présence chinoise croissante. Cette présence chinoise ne date pas d'hier, même si elle s'est accrue tout récemment. La présence chinoise en Afrique s'est manifestée depuis les années 60 par l'offre de diverses compétences techniques aux pays africains (dans le domaine agricole surtout). La récente influence chinoise en Afrique a été promue par le premier Forum de Coopération Sino-africaine qui a eu lieu à Beijing en 2000; le but de ce forum étant de promouvoir les relations diplomatiques, le commerce et l'investissement entre la Chine et les pays africains. Depuis lors, le commerce sino-africain n'a cessé de croître.

D'où vient ce regain d'intérêt croissant pour l'Afrique? Que représente l'Afrique pour la Chine aujourd'hui?

Ce que vaut l'Afrique pour la Chine
Le Gouvernement chinois encourage les entreprises chinoises, particulièrement les PME, à augmenter leurs investissements en Afrique. En effet, l'Afrique revêt une importance capitale pour les investisseurs chinois.

L'Afrique renferme des ressources naturelles abondantes. C'est d'abord une source clé de matières premières, surtout de pétrole brut dont la Chine est actuellement le deuxième plus grand consommateur avec plus de 25% de ses importations de pétrole venant du Soudan et du Golf de Guinée. L'Afrique, c'est aussi un créneau pour les produits chinois à faible coût de production. L'Afrique offre également à la Chine la possibilité d'investir dans les infrastructures telles que les centrales hydro-électriques, les oléoducs et les usines. La Chine convoite également en Afrique bien d'autres créneaux potentiels où l'Occident se laisse dissuader par les préoccupations politiques telles que les sanctions ou l'instabilité. En clair, le fait que la Chine soit peu ou pas du tout soucieuse de l'impact que pourrait avoir son association avec des régimes répressifs et corrompus sur sa réputation fait d'elle une collaboratrice attirante aux yeux de certains régimes. Aussi, l'absence de toute concurrence avec les multinationales occidentales, dans certains pays jugés corrompus et non soucieux du respect des droits humains, profite à la Chine et lui offre la possibilité d'y faire plus de recettes.

La stratégie chinoise de pénétration du marché africain diffère de celle des ex-pouvoirs coloniaux en bien de points si bien que la Chine est loin d'être soupçonnée de couver des ambitions impérialistes.

Stratégies de pénétration du marché africain
Dans son opération de charme en vue de la pénétration du marché africain, la Chine propose aux pays africains, en plus du support technique, une aide financière, des prêts à des taux d'intérêt bas, renouvelables ou annulables. C'est d'ailleurs la disponibilité du prêt chinois qui a permis à l'Angola de résister à la pression exercée par le FMI et les pays occidentaux pour que ce pays, considéré comme l'un des pays les plus corrompus au monde, améliore la transparence de son secteur pétrolier et qu'il mette en place des reformes dans ledit secteur et dans plusieurs autres secteurs. Bien plus, la capacité de la Chine à présenter aux pays africains une offre dépourvue de toute conditionnalité extra commerciale, comme le respect des droits humains, le respect de la liberté de presse, la convention contre la corruption, fait d'elle un source alternative d'investissements et d'aide inconditionnelle. Ainsi, la Chine est perçue par beaucoup de gouvernements africains comme une alternative aux pays du G8, parce qu'avec la Chine, ils n'ont guère à se soucier de la bonne gouvernance. La Chine, bien plus, a déclaré son respect du principe de la souveraineté nationale des pays Africains et la non interférence dans leurs affaires internes.

La coopération sino-africaine présente indéniablement des avantages pour les deux parties, mais elle semble être, à y voir de près, la répétition-type des relations commerciales établies par l'impérialisme européen; la répétition de la vieille histoire du commerce africain avec l'Europe. On peut oser affirmer alors, sans risque de se tromper, que l'avenir demeure un défi pour l'Afrique.

L'Avenir: un challenge permanent pour l'Afrique
Le commerce sino-africain présente des caractéristiques semblables au commerce que l'Europe a entretenu des décennies durant avec l'Afrique. L'Afrique exporte des matières premières vers la Chine qui en retour approvisionne le marché africain en biens manufacturés. Résultat prévisible: une balance commerciale négative pour l'Afrique! L'Afrique exporte des matières premières vers la Chine et importe des produits chinois à faible coût de production qui se vendent moins cher
et rivalisent avec les industries et les entreprises locales. Ainsi, l'industrie locale se trouve dans une position défavorable à cause de la croissance des exportations chinoises vers l'Europe et les Etats-Unis. Cette situation détruit tout espoir pour l'Afrique de pénétrer les marchés européens et étasuniens et encore l'espoir de voir prospérer les industries et les entreprises africaines au niveau local.

Les exemples qui illustrent combien de fois les entreprises africaines végètent dans les profondeurs abyssales de la galère à cause de la forte présence chinoise sur le marché domestique africain sont légion. Le cas du textile en est un parmi bien d'autres. A l'expiration de l'Accord Multifibre (MFA) en Janvier 2005, les exportations chinoises vers les Etats-Unis son monté en flèche et les exportateurs africains se sont rendus compte qu'ils ne pouvaient pas leur faire concurrence. Plus de dix (10) usines textile au Lesotho ont fermé en 2005 et dix mille (10.000) employés au moins se sont retrouvés au chômage.

En Octobre 2005, des syndicalistes représentant les industries de vêtements, de textiles, de chaussures et de cuir de plusieurs pays - Le Ghana, le Kenya, le Malawi, Madagascar, l'Ile Maurice, la Namibie, la Tanzanie, le Nigeria, le Lesotho, le Swaziland, la Zambie, le Zimbabwe et l'Afrique du Sud- se sont réunis au Cap dans le but de discuter des effets de l'expiration de l'Accord Multifibre (MAFA). Les conclusions de cette réunion montrent que le continent africain a perdu plus de 250.000 emplois puisque les marchés domestiques africains avaient été inondés de produits textiles à faible coût de production ainsi que l'importation de vêtements en provenance de la Chine.

Il serait injuste et peu réaliste de suggérer que la forte présence chinoise ne fasse naître que des problèmes en Afrique. L'Afrique devrait apprendre de la Chine; elle pourrait tirer de sa présence une expérience profitable.

Les gouvernements africains devraient pouvoir soulever devant le comité responsable des conflits de l'Organisation Mondiale du Commerce les pratiques de dumping de la Chine et mettre en place des mesures qui limiteraient l'invasion chinoise du marché domestique africain, comme l'ont fait les Etats-Unis et l'Europe pour les marchés étasuniens et européens. Aussi, devraient-ils promouvoir dans toute affaire de commerce et d'investissements l'intérêt des consommateurs et l'économie au niveau local. Par ailleurs, la société civile africaine devrait pouvoir exercer une pression sur les gouvernements africains dans une tentative de renforcer au moins quelques uns des droits humains et un minimum de bonnes pratiques environnementales liées à la démarche et à la présence chinoise sur le continent africain.

Selay M.K.

COTE D’IVOIRE: NDI’s Contribution to Free and fair Elections from 1992 to Present: How little has changed / How much remains to be done

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 to 1992.

In 1992, a team of NDI came to Côte d’Ivoire to analyze the Ivorian electoral code and see its conformity with the international electoral standards. Recommendations were made by this organization after the analysis of the aforementioned code; namely the creation of an impartial electoral organ in charge of organizing and managing the electoral process, the use of transparent ballot boxes and the use of unique ballot paper in order to reinforce the right of the voters to the secrecy of the poll.

From 1995 to 1999, NDI’s action targeted both the National Assembly and the Government. During the legislative election organized in November 1995, NDI staff supervised twenty (20) different sites in ten (10) regions of the country. In October 1997, NDI organized a seminar for the members of Parliament (of which 65 percent were new elected officials) in order to help them better know and master electoral processes and concentrate on the demands of voters. In December 1999, when the armed forces came into power after the coup, NDI officers realized that the chances of having free and fair elections in 2000 were reduced. So NDI sent a delegation to Côte d’Ivoire to compel the military authorities to respect the fundamental principles of democracy, the fair management of the electoral process and above all, the organization of free and fair elections.

Since 2000, NDI has focused its efforts on political parties, on the organizations of the civil society and on the electoral administration. In 2001, a NDI staff led a delegation of the main Ivorian political parties to Cape Town in South Africa (from August 27^th to September 3^rd) in order to help Ivorian leaders to learn how South African political leaders managed to reconcile and consolidate democracy in their country. From 2001 to 2006, NDI organized many training sessions on democracy and electoral processes for political leaders and the civil society.

In 2006, disagreements about the ‘Public Hearings’ have provoked clashes between political protagonists and have resulted in many deaths and casualties. For what must be learned, Public Hearings aimed at providing Nationals and non Nationals born in Côte d’Ivoire, age 13 or more, who have never been registered at the Civil Register Office, with a certificate of birth. Public Hearings appear as an important step of the constitution of the electoral list. The Public Hearings have been stopped and re-launched in September 2007. To prevent any violence related to this electoral process and guarantee its credibility, NDI has initiated a project to support political parties and the civil society. This project included training sessions on Public Hearings and targeted 606 participants. In November 2007, NDI drafted an electoral code of conduct that determines rules of engagement, establishes the standards of acceptable behavior, and seeks to promote a peaceful and legitimate electoral process. The signing of the Code of Conduct by the main registered political parties in Côte d’Ivoire shows promise for democratic development in this country.

Though NDI has made significant contribution to pave the way for free and fair election in Côte d’Ivoire, little has changed! Armed militias are still threatening population, disarmament is still a far-reaching goal and the National Electoral Commission is not through with the Public Hearing as well. Indeed, much remains to be done.

Journalists are really not associated with the pacification process in Côte d’Ivoire. No specific training targets journalists. Then, there is a hole to fill! Actually, the media, print media particularly, plays a significant role in the political field in Côte d’Ivoire and journalists are invisible political actors who very often fuel the political climax in this country. Journalists, through their subjective political analysis, exacerbate political differences and contribute thus to create an atmosphere in which it is almost impossible to separate fiction from reality. Readers, then, cannot have an objective opinion on events that are happening in the country. Thus, training journalists on their duties and responsibilities and on the ongoing pacification process in Côte d’Ivoire will certainly contribute to decrease the risk of disinformation and political violence. NDI could, from now on, organize specific training session for journalists on electoral coverage and establish an active network of journalists who only report on electoral events in Côte d’Ivoire. Indeed, there is a hole to fill!

Selay M.K.