AU Chair to Hold Talks with Ivorian Rivals

By Staff Writer

ABIDJAN---The African Union Chairman Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has flown to Ivory Coast to hold talks with the country’s two varying leaders on possible solutions to end the long-running feud.

Mutharika is expected to hold separate talks with incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday where he will give a statement on possible developments. Gbagbo earlier rejected the AU appointed mediator Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga over claims that he is in support of Ouattara.

His visit comes ahead of an AU Summit beginning this week in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa where the Ivory Coast crisis is expected to dominate the agenda during the two days of convergence.

Over 25 heads of state and government from the 53 member states are expected to attend this 16th AU summit on 30 and 31 this month, whose main theme would be “shared values.”

Ivory Coast will not be represented at the summit after suspension of its membership over the ongoing crisis. But a representative of the internationally recognized Ouattara would be allowed to make presentations at Friday’s heads-of-state meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council.

Mr. Gbagbo has declined to step down and hand over power to Ouattara who is being internationally recognized as legitimate winner of November’s disputed presidential polls.

Cocoa prices in the world market have soared high this week after Ouattara called for a ban on exports from the country aimed at cutting funding for the Gbagbo’s administration in a move to force him to relinquish power.

It’s unclear how effective the ban would be, which critics say will worsen the crisis in the world’s top cocoa exporter. Ivory Coast produces over a third of world’s cocoa supplies.

 West African regional economic bloc ECOWAS has called for consideration of military actions to depose Gbagbo if he does not step down willingly.