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| Africa Subsaharan | |
| France calls for "orderly transition" of power in Ivory Coast | |
| 2010-12-07 | |
La Belle France, the United States and the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society have issued statements of support for Alhasane Outtara, the challenger in the latest election and who was deemed the victor by the electoral committee and the UN. But incumbent Laurent Gbagbo has refused to leave office and has had himself confirmed for another term by the Constitutional Council, which has supported him along with the armed forces. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has agreed to go to Ivory Coast to try to resolve the stand-off between Outtara and Gbagbo, both of whom have designated Prime Ministers and are seeking to form rival governments. The French Foreign Ministry said that a transition in power should take place, meaning Gbagbo should step down as "this will allow all economic actors to pursue their activities and continue to work for the development of the country." Several years ago, Ivory Coast was wracked by a civil war between Outarra's northern supporters and the south of the country led by Gbagbo and France was forced to deploy troops to contain the situation. French forces also destroyed the Ivory Coast air force after it had attacked a French garrison on the dividing line between the fighting parties. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Most likely French troops are on standby. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-12-07 21:34 |
| #2 France also drew the boundary lines right down the middle of some villages when the colonial powers divvied up Africa. The peoples of Africa do not form easily defined nations. Each region has groups and subgroups of tribes, some related, some not. The Krahn live next to the Mandinka and the Mano and the Gio in Liberia, one village speaking one language a mile from a village speaking another language. The colonial powers expected these people to somehow coalesce into modern nations. The British at least made an effort to teach its native leaders how to run some infrastructure. La Belle France expected its former colonies to be "departements de France", "Le outremer"-- client states. The French still run the utilities in places. When Sekou Toure of Guinea didn't want to play that game in Guinea, the departing French ripped up the phone system and electrical grid on their way out. |
| Posted by: mom 2010-12-07 18:17 |
| #1 Meanwhile, France can't manage an orderly transition to a new retirement age. |
| Posted by: ryuge 2010-12-07 14:14 |