I Coast peace progress 'poor'
2006-04-21 10:06
Abidjan - International power brokers committed to Ivory Coast's fragile peace process expressed deep concern at the lack of progress in the west African state in a mid-term review on Thursday.
The verdict came only six months before a UN-set deadline for general elections expected to cap the transition out of a 2002 civil war that left the nation, a former economic hub of the region, divided and destabilised.
The UN-backed panel known as the International Working Group, which included dozens of African and Western envoys, criticised the delay in two key programmes: disarming the opposing rebel New Forces, the government army and the so-called "patriotic" militias, and preparing for a pre-vote census.
Army resumes talks
The New Forces and the army loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo resumed disarmament talks this month, which had been stalled last year, but they had since been suspended again.
On April 8, all the country's political players meeting under the aegis of the African Union agreed to embark simultaneously on the dual processes of disarmament and establishing voters' identities.
But, at the weekend Gbagbo said identification could be postponed until after elections, saying the polls could be organised using updated 2002 voters register.
The rebels who had controlled the north of the country since a failed coup against Gbagbo in 2002 said they would not turn in their arms until they carried identity cards certifying they were Ivorians.
'Time is pressing'
The group said: "While noting the progress made, the working group expresses its deep anxiety at the delays in launching the activities essential for carrying out the road map" set out by UN-backed transitional Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny.
Released after the sixth monthly meeting of the working group set up in line with a UN security council resolution at the end of last year, the statement emphasised that "time is pressing".
The UN acted after presidential elections scheduled for October 2005 failed to take place as both sides dug in their heels.
It gave Gbagbo another year in office, but said a mutually acceptable prime minister should be named to steer the peace process.
'The peace train is moving'
Referring to the April 8 accord, the working group said "the government must take all necessary steps to speed up the simultaneous operations".
It called on both sides to make their supporters aware of the "overriding necessity" to accept their commitments.
Congo's foreign minister Rodolphe Ada, whose country chaired the African Union, said: "The peace train is moving.
"It could be that there are some Ivorians who refuse to take it or hesitate to do so. They are wrong. We invite them to take it, for the interest of this country."
The working group also voiced concern at the suspension of the disarmament talks after an incident at a road block - on April 12 - led to a third round being postponed indefinitely.