Cote d'Ivoire : Peace Deal in Jeopardy as Mediation Fails

By Eric Sande

ABIDJAN---African Union envoy, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga left Abidjan on Wednesday saying the latest mediation effort over Ivory Coast’s disputed election had failed on Tuesday to reach "the necessary breakthrough".

Speaking to reporters at the airport as he was about to leave Mr Odinga said, "Despite extensive discussions ... with Mr Laurent Gbagbo and President-elect Alassane Ouattara, that went very late into the night, I regret to announce that the breakthrough that was needed, did not materialize."

Odinga stated that the current leader Laurent Gbagbo had reneged on his promise to lift a blockade on the Abidjan hotel serving as the temporary headquarters of his rival Alassane Ouattara.

Gbagbo’s camp was said to have accepted to have direct talks with the opposition but refused to remove the blockade on the hotel.

Ouattara on the other hand maintained his position that Mr Gbagbo recognise him as president before any negotiations.

Mr Gbagbo accused Odinga of bias only hours after he blamed him of stalling peace talks.

Mr Odinga “has failed in his mission and we are no longer ready to receive him here”, said Alcide Djédjé ,Mr Gbagbo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a Press conference on Wednesday.

Djédjé said they were still open to discuss with another AU mediator on “substantive issues facing Côte d'Ivoire” as Mr Odinga showed he is biased in his latest declaration in Abidjan.

Odinga has now stepped up warnings of more sanctions and possible use of force.

"Unless they heed the call and agree to create a conducive environment for peaceful dialogue, the friends of Ivory Coast might be forced to take other measures...which would require additional punishing economic and financial sanctions, and possibly the use of force", says Odinga.

Beefing up security, UN Security Council in New York, reinforced its mission to Côte d’Ivoire with the immediate deployment of an additional 2,000 troops and three armed helicopters to the 9,000-strong peacekeeping operation.

Alassane Ouattara has been widely recognised as the winner of the November 28 election but incumbent Laurent Gbagbo has refused to resign, alleging the vote was rigged.