Ecowas ‘Marshalling Forces’ for Ivory Coast, Odinga Says

Bloomberg, by Sarah McGregor, February 23, 2011

Feb. 23 (Bloomberg) -- The Economic Community of West African States is holding planning meetings and “marshalling forces” to remove Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo from power if sanctions and talks fail to convince him to step down, said Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“If all these measures don’t result in a change of regime, force will be used,” Odinga told reporters today in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. “As to when, I cannot say.”

An African Union-sponsored mission to Ivory Coast, including the presidents of South Africa, Tanzania, Mauritania and Chad, completed a two-day visit to the country yesterday. The mission could be the “final attempt” by the regional bloc for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, Odinga said. The international community has recognized Alassane Ouattara as the winner of elections on Nov. 18.

Gbagbo remains “oblivious” to international and domestic calls for him to quit, Odinga said. “We have said the use of force will be the very last option after all the peaceful attempts have failed,” he said.

Gbagbo refuses to cede power in the world’s top cocoa producer because of alleged voter fraud. The United Nations, the European Union and the U.S. have all recognized Ouattara as the winner of the election.

Sunny Ugoh, spokesman for Ecowas, didn’t answer four calls to his mobile phone today.

Police Killed

The latest round of African Union talks follow at least two unsuccessful attempts to broker a resolution by Odinga. Gbagbo rejected Odinga as a mediator, saying he was biased.

Charles Ble Goude, youth minister for Gbagbo, has also rejected Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore as part of the latest African Union panel. Compaore refused to join the rest of the panel on the trip to Ivory Coast this week, citing security concerns.

Unidentified gunmen in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital, Abidjan, killed at least 10 policemen yesterday and seized one military vehicle, according to l’Intelligent d’Abidjan. Gunfire was heard in the neighborhood of Abobo throughout the night, the Abidjan-based newspaper reported today. The suburb is a stronghold of Ouattara.

At least 300 people have been killed in clashes since the political struggle began almost three months ago, according to the UN. In the west of the country, Amnesty International estimates 70,000 people have fled their homes amid ethnic tensions that have been exacerbated by the impasse.

Financial Closure

The closure of the branches of least 10 lenders including Standard Chartered Plc, Citigroup Inc., BNP Paribas SA and Societe Generale SA over the past week has brought the financial system to a halt.

The Central Bank of West African States has ordered lenders in the region to halt all transactions with its agencies in Ivory Coast after Gbagbo seized their offices.

The European Union last month froze assets of Ivory Coast’s key cocoa- and coffee-exporting ports, along with those of companies including the national broadcaster.

The sanctions amounted to a “de facto export ban” on cocoa beans and products from the country, the European Cocoa Association and Federation of Cocoa Commerce Ltd. said Feb. 4.

The election was meant to unify Ivory Coast which has been split into a government-controlled south and rebel-held north since a military uprising in 2002.

With reporting by Paul Okolo in Abuja. Editors: Philip Sanders, Karl Maier

To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah McGregor in Nairobi at smcgregor5@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net.