West Africa’s Democratic Evolution – African or Western?

For sometime, the centre of Africa’s anarchic one-party systems, gory tyrants, brutal dictatorships, self-serving military juntas and hideous civil wars, West Africa is changing and indisputably sowing democratic seeds. Whether in Cape Verde, Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Niger, Nigeria or Guinea Bissau multi-party elections are blowing across the once politically sick region.

Côte d’Ivoire stand-off Over But Humanitarian Crisis Continues, UN and Partners Warn

14 April 2011 –Although the political stand-off in Côte d’Ivoire ended earlier this week, the humanitarian crisis spawned by months of violence continues, United Nations agencies and their partners stressed today as they appeal for $160 million to scale up aid to affected populations inside the country. Today’s appeal represents a five-fold increase over the… Continue reading Côte d’Ivoire stand-off Over But Humanitarian Crisis Continues, UN and Partners Warn

Ivory Coast Sit-tight Laurent Gbagbo Captured

UN News Center 11 April 2011 – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cote d’Ivoire today confirmed that the country’s former president Laurent Gbagbo has surrendered to forces loyal to President-elect Alassane Ouattara and is currently in their custody. “ONUCI [UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire] is providing protection and security in accordance with its Security… Continue reading Ivory Coast Sit-tight Laurent Gbagbo Captured

Cote D’Iviore: After Gbagbo What Next

As the sun finally sets on Laurent Gbagbo’s reign in the cocoa growing nation of West Africa, signifying an imminent collapse of his regime, it has become pertinent to begin to take a look at what the future of Cote D’Ivoire should` look like post Laurent Gbagbo. That this West African nation has suffered so… Continue reading Cote D’Iviore: After Gbagbo What Next

Top UN Relief Official Sounds Alarm After ‘deeply troubling’ Visit to Côte d’Ivoire

7 April 2011 –The United Nations relief chief sounded the alarm today about the humanitarian situation inside Côte d’Ivoire, saying emergency aid is needed now to help hundreds of thousands of civilians caught up in the deadly violence that has engulfed the West African country. Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief… Continue reading Top UN Relief Official Sounds Alarm After ‘deeply troubling’ Visit to Côte d’Ivoire

Pro-Gbagbo forces in Côte d’Ivoire Inform UN of Their Intention to Stop Fighting

5 April 2011 –The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire reported today that it has received telephone calls from the heads of forces loyal to former leader Laurent Gbagbo stating that their soldiers have been instructed to stop fighting and hand in their weapons to the UN. The UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI)… Continue reading Pro-Gbagbo forces in Côte d’Ivoire Inform UN of Their Intention to Stop Fighting

French take over Abidjan airport

BBC News France has sent extra troops to Ivory Coast’s main city, Abidjan, and taken control of its airport. It comes as fighting continued between forces loyal to the UN-recognised president, Alassane Ouattara, and his rival, incumbent Laurent Gbagbo. The city’s pro-Gbagbo TV station called for people to mobilise against the French ‘”occupation”. An adviser… Continue reading French take over Abidjan airport