AU Sets Up Panel To Mediate in Ivorian Crisis
The African Union Commission AUC) has given Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent Ivorian leader, the last chance to step down, as the Union decides to set up a panel of mediators to help resolve the Ivorian crisis, failing which the Commission will advise itself.
Reaffirming the AU’s support for Alassane Quattara as the winner of that country’s November elections, AU Commission Chairperson Dr Jean Ping told a news conference in Adis Ababa at the AU Summit that it looked ahead for a successful dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
He said the AU had decided to engage the parties more to explore all avenues for dialogue, and would, therefore, not rush to activate the military option, which he said would be the last resort. As to what would be the next step, he did not disclose.
He said the AU had no interest whatsoever in the Ivorian elections, except to help maintain peace, describing the situation in Cote d’Ivoire as a complicated issue.
He noted that there could not be sustainable democracy in any country without peace.
On the call for the use of force, he wondered why Africans, who are directly affected by the crisis, are calling for dialogue, while those outside Africa are seriously pushing for military action, asking what the motive behind those external pressures could be.
“We have never succeeded in the use of force except in Sierra Leone,” he said, saying the continent had suffered immensely from the consequences of the use of force to settle matters in various countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo where over five million people lost their lives.
“Who takes responsibilities for these lives,” he asked, saying, ‘I am confident that we would succeed in Cote d’Ivoire with dialogue than the use of force.”
He said the AU had a principle or norms it followed in dealing with situations such as the Ivorian crisis and appealed to the parties to come to terms for the sake of peace.
Dr Ping noted that even though the two foreign ministers of Gbagbo and Quattara were in Addis Ababa to attend the Summit, they were not allowed to participate.
He said the AU had a principle it followed and that until the issues were addressed amicably, the leaders were not going to be allowed into the AU sessions.
On the situation in Egypt and Tunisia, Dr Ping said the topic and issues, as well as speeches to the summit, were prepared ahead of the uprisings in those countries.