Call for Ivory Coast leaders to cross the Rubicon

The possible return of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to the Ivory Coast on charges of crimes against humanity might well be the catalyst for negotiations in that country. That’s the view of former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who said last month’s International Criminal Court (ICC) ruling was likely to have a meaningful impact on the country, West Africa and Africa as a whole. Gbagbo served as President from 2000 until 2011 and he was ousted following disputed elections. In an analysis on the News24 site, Mbeki notes that the Ivorian Electoral Law prescribed that it was only the Constitutional Council which could announce the final election results. Accordingly, Gbagbo refused to vacate his seat. ‘Nine years have passed since both the then serving and former African Heads of State and Government called on the government and people of Ivory Coast to come together, negotiate and agree on a new order for their country which would guarantee democracy, peace, national reconciliation and national unity. It may very well be that the return home of Gbagbo may be the moment when, at last, the Ivorians will get together to negotiate and agree on a new order for their country which would indeed guarantee democracy, peace, national reconciliation and national unity. The time has come that the leaders of Ivory Coast courageously seize the moment to cross the Rubicon,’ said Mbeki.

The ICC last week granted Gbagbo permission to leave Belgium under certain conditions following his acquittal last year over the post-election violence that killed 3 000 people. Gbagbo, the first head of state to stand trial in The Hague, and his deputy, Charles Ble Goude, were cleared in early 2019 of crimes against humanity – eight years after his arrest. Belgium had agreed to host Gbagbo after he was released under strict conditions, including his return to court for a prosecution appeal against his acquittal. The ICC said Gbagbo could travel, provided the country he was going to agreed to receive him. It is unclear whether he can return to the Ivory Coast, where his Ivorian Popular Front Party is preparing to challenge President Alassane Ouattara's ruling party in elections scheduled for October.