Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo standoff - stay updates

twelve.24pm: Our Africa correspondent David Smith, who will be answering your questions inside the feedback segment at 1pm, has presented some analysis in the possibilities open to Gbagbo because the internet closes all around him:

The deputy leader of Ivory Coast’s rebel forces advised me previous month that they have no intention of killing him, but fairly want him to stand trial on the International Criminal Court, following the instance of former president Charles Taylor in neighbouring Liberia. There is growing need for this within the wake of some hideous human rights abuses above the previous four months.

David says converse of Gbagbo, a former history professor, staying presented amnesty and taking up a instructing placement inside the America is long gone:


But he could however go into exile, quite possibly across the border in Ghana, which was one among the nations that place the brakes on a mooted west African army intervention. Other candidates are Angola, where by president Jose Eduardo dos Santos is definitely an previous ally, or Zimbabwe, where by president Robert Mugabe often welcomes any prospect to goad the west. Zimbabwe currently provides refuge to previous Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, needed for the notorious ‘Red Terror’ campaign.

Then there is South Africa, currently a bolthole for each previous Madagascan president Marc Ravalomanana and exiled Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who returned to his homeland final month. It really is already getting joked that Aristide’s luxurious villa in Pretoria is now
empty and offered for Gbagbo to maneuver in. South Africa angered Gbagbo’s rival, Alassane Ouattara, by refusing to take sides in excess of previous year’s election, though it’s subsequently arrive on board together with the relaxation of the African Union in endorsing Ouattara. Nonetheless, by
offering Gbagbo some breathing space, South Africa could fend off inner critics who say it’s got grow to be subservient towards the west, not least more than Libya.

But each of the noises coming out of Gbagbo’s bunker now appear to echo Churchill’s “in defeat, defiance” - which has a consequence that might resemble Hitler’s fate in 1945.

twelve.15pm: Gbagbo are going to be captured within the future few several hours, in accordance with a spokeswoman for Ouattara. Talking to CNN she reported:


The Republican forces of Cote d’Ivoire are in Laurent Gbagbo’s household. I believe in 1 hour they will seize Gbagbo. Within just a person hour or two hours.

She confirmed that a gun battle is happening in the residence and additional that only Republican forces, allayed to Ouattara, are associated with the fighting, not UN or French troops.

eleven.53am: Ibrahim Coulibaly, a spokesman for that Ivory Coast embassy in France, just informed al-Jazeera English Gbabgo is “still in his bunker”. He explained:

Gbabgo continues to be denying the end result from the election, so today we made the decision to go and get him out of his bunker.

Coulibaly reported they had no intention of harming Gbagbo but had no other selection than to utilize force to get him from his bunker.

“That’s the one implies now, we did not have any selection. Now we have been wanting to negotiate with him.”

Coulibaly denied that any French forces are involved with the assault.

eleven.37am: Affoussy Bamba, spokeswoman for the authorities of your president elect, Ouattara, has told France-24 that Gbagbo are going to be captured “soon”. She said:

On the present-day minute they’ve got not yet captured Gbagbo nevertheless it will take place soon. They opened the gates and mentioned that the residence is surrounded by major weaponry. Now the goal would be to capture him.

Members of Ouattara’s forces are reportedly beneath rigorous directions in the president-elect’s government to consider Gbago unharmed.

eleven.18am: Forces loyal to Ouattara are attacking Gbagbo’s palace and therefore are arranging to take him from his bunker however the incumbent president still has some security guarding him, Selay Koussi reviews inside of a Skype interview from Abidjan.

From my house I can listen to gunfire. Ouattara forces are firing at the bunker. They claimed they are going to catch Mr Gbagbo in his home. Gbagbo just isn’t exhibiting any signal of resigning. Maybe only by in this way will he surrender. He’s currently being safeguarded by a handful of faithful militiamen and security guards.

We desire for a pleased ending otherwise it is going to be pretty hard.

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eleven.12am: There exists a “real danger” that Gbabgo, his wife along with other household members could possibly be killed inside assault about the presidential palace, his European representative Toussaint Alain has told AP.

Alain claimed French forces are firing from two Puma helicopters and in addition through the rooftop on the French ambassador’s residence close by. He claimed:

France will be held responsible for that death of President Gbagbo, his spouse and family members and all individuals who are within the residence, which is becoming bombarded through the French army.


French Military Spokesman Thierry Burkhard denied that French forces are firing at the residence.

eleven.02am: Residents round the presidential palace in Abidjan’s Cocody neighbourhood say they’ve heard heavy gunfire and loud explosions coming from the path on the palace, Reuters studies. Alfred Kouassi, who lives near Gbagbo’s residence in Cocody, told the news agency:

I’ve observed from my setting up the FRCI fighters (Ouattara forces) in pick-ups and 4x4 jeeps rushing towards Gbagbo’s residence, weapons within their hands. We are able to hear automated gunfire and in addition the thuds of serious weapons coming from your residence.

ten.53am: A Gbagbo representative claims French forces are firing about the embattled Ivorian leader’s residence, AP studies.

A French federal government spokesman has advised Reuters its forces usually are not participating in on-the-ground fighting around the presidential residence palace.
Live blog: Twitter

10.44am: The BBC’s Andrew Harding tweets:

I can hear major bombardment in Abidjan. Has Gbagbo been haggling too prolonged in his bunker? Nation badly requirements relaxed ending to this.

ten.41am: Fabrice Zagbayou, a Gbagbo supporter and enterprise analyst from Abidjan, says he fears for his life within the current assault.

Zagbayou, an active Twitter user inside city, told the Guardian:

Laurent Gbagbo won the election. We don’t need to have bombing, we don’t need an additional leader. The French army bombed civilians, the French army bombed the president. This isn’t democracy. It’s not acceptable.

Sounding close to tears he added:

“The French army say they desire to secure Abidjan. It is actually wrong. It can be incorrect. We believe they’ll destroy Laurent Gbagbo. Ouattara militia and French troops are shooting now. I’m frightened for my life. I am afraid that if the Ouattara militia obtain me they are going to destroy me.”

A French federal government spokesman has stated French forces usually are not participating in on-the-ground fighting throughout the presidential residence, in keeping with Reuters.

10.36am: Forces loyal to Ouattara have stormed the palace the place Gbagbo is sheltering inside a bunker, a spokeswoman for the forces told Reuters. Affousy Bamba explained:

Indeed they (Ouattara forces) are from the procedure of getting into the residence to seize Gbagbo, they’ve got not taken him nevertheless, however they are inside approach, they may be within the developing.

ten.22am: There is a valuable Q&A around the crisis by Richard Downie, deputy director of your Africa programme in the Washington-based Centre for Strategic International Studies.

His answer on what happens future is most pertinent:

By holding out for so long, Gbagbo has lost any right to negotiate the terms of his exit. In an ideal scenario, he should prepare for a trip on the Global Criminal Court, whose prosecutors have already been closely monitoring events in Côte d’Ivoire. It remains to get viewed whether a further African country might help him escape this fate by offering him a quiet exile.

President Ouattara faces the formidable challenge of healing a deeply divided country in which a sizeable minority openly concerns his right to govern. Having been denied his right to win control from the region through the ballot box, he has ultimately claimed it by force. The hefty fighting from the past few days has led to excesses by both equally sides inside the conflict. The FRCI has been accused by the International Committee of your Red Cross of staying involved in a massacre from the town of Duékoué, even though Ouattara strongly denies this claim. In addition, the incoming president will inevitably face the politically damaging claim that he was propelled to power by the French, Côte d’Ivoire’s previous colonial masters. A

All of these factors dent Ouattara’s credibility. For these reasons, his main priority on taking office will probably be to promote national reconciliation. Ouattara will want to act with restraint toward those that opposed him and would be advised to reach out to his erstwhile enemies by including some on the more moderate Gbagbo loyalists in his government. There remains cause for desire despite the challenges. Ivoirian political leaders have shown an impressive capacity to patch up their differences in the past; these skills is going to be needed again inside coming weeks and months.

10.08am: The Guardian’s stringer, Selay Koussi, says gunfire has restarted in Abidjan after the FRCI, the pro-Outtara forces, announced that they are going to “take Gbagbo out of his bunker the place he’s hiding”.

There’re heading towards the presidential palace.

It appears that they have lost patience with attempts to negotiate Gbagbo’s surrender.

10.01am: The Guardian’s Africa correspondent David Smith will be taking part inside a Q&A while in the remarks segment below at 1pm.

- You may be interested in finding out more about the two sides on the conflict, tribal allegiances, their culpability for war crimes.

- Or you may be interested inside the global aspects of the conflict, the role with the UN and/or France and the scope the crisis has to affect other countries from the region.

- Alternatively, you may have concerns about the humanitarian cost with the crisis.

Simply post your question inside the feedback segment and David will try to respond.

9.51am: Gbagbo is resisting pressure from your United Nations and France to sign a document renouncing his claim to power, in an additional setback to hopes that he will leave office imminently, Reuters reviews.

From his bunker the place he is surrounded by troops loyal to Ouattara, Gbagbo advised French Radio RFI nowadays:

We aren’t at the negotiating stage. And my departure from where? to go the place?

But Gbagbo federal government spokesman Ahoua Don Mello, who was taking part in negotiations, informed Reuters the parties are however in talks. He reported:

“Some points are nevertheless becoming discussed. Nothing has been signed, Gbagbo has not signed anything.”

9.47am: There exists major gunfire in close proximity to Gbagbo’s residence, France 24 is reporting, citing witnesses. No further details happen to be presented.

9.17am: Gbagbo’s refusal to surrender is prompting fears of more violence in Abidjan, our stringer while in the city, Selay Koussi, reports. (There is certainly brief echo within the line at first nevertheless it gets better).

The put is quiet, but it is not safe because you some have militia men that are however faithful Mr Gbagbo who ransacking shops and supermarkets.

Many many families are running out of basic foodstuffs and water.

Many many people consider that the UN and French forces again might restart the bombing to put pressure on him [Gbagbo] to relinquish power. Many people were disappointment that he explained he was not going to recognise Mr Ouattara because the victor with the election. I am frightened that if French troops and UN forces use helicopters and start firing rockets on the bunker of Mr Gbagbo the violence will raise again. People are really angry throughout Abidjan. They think that Mr Gbagbo is playing a nasty game along with the international community. They imagine he’s attempting to get time to escape.

This day is very crucial. If nothing is done inside the subsequent 24 hrs the population might go on to the streets because there’re running out of basic foodstuffs and water. This might bring the nation about the verge of each chaos and collapse.

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9.01am: The Guardian has a story up about Gbagbo’s denial that he is preparing to surrender. He informed French news channel LCI:

I won the election and I’m not negotiating my departure. I obtain it absolutely incredible the entire world is playing this … game of poker.


He also insisted he had no intention of getting a martyr:

“I’m not a kamikaze. I love lifestyle. My voice is simply not the voice of a martyr, no, no, no, I’m not looking for death. It can be not my aim to die.”

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8.56am: With most people assuming Gbabgo’s surrender is only a matter of time, attention is turning to what will come about after his departure. On Comment is Free, Adekeye Adebajo, director of your Centre for Conflict, writes that both equally sides have a case to answer:

Both sides have been accused of committing atrocities. Gbagbo and Ouattara must thus be put on notice that they’ll be held accountable for war crimes committed by their fighters. The financial and travel sanctions recently imposed through the UN on Gbagbo, his Lady Macbethian spouse Simone, along with other associates, should also be extended to other peace “spoilers”.

French troops must do more than just protect the airport in order to evacuate western nationals in nonetheless another instance of an “aristocracy of death”, in which the lives of foreigners are deemed for being worth more than individuals of Africans. In addition, genuine suspicions persist about the stance adopted by pro-Ouattara France, whose previous self-interested interventions in Africa, and continuing support for local autocrats, cast the Gallic power in the role of a fox guarding a hen-house.


Adebajo also says other African nations have an important part to play in post-Gbagbo reconciliation:

Nigeria and South Africa must use their presence to the UN safety council effectively to help craft a peaceful outcome. The African Union should help to negotiate a safe exit for Gbagbo and press Ouattara to bring in his rival’s supporters into any future federal government. Nigeria, South Africa and Angola must speak with one voice to ensure that any agreement sticks.

8.46am: France’s armed forces chief Edouard Guillaud has informed Europe 1 radio that Gbagbo is negotiating his surrender - the president has denied he is doing so - and could quit office in “a matter of hours”. He said:

They (negotiations) continued through the night but unfortunately I see no breakthrough for now. Despite that, I believe it is actually a matter of hrs, maybe during the day.

Guillard also reported strikes against Gbagbo’s camp could resume with the request of your United Nations and if he continued to refuse to step down.

Earlier, the French foreign minister, Alain Juppe informed France Info radio the sole thing left to discuss with Gbagbo was his departure. Juppe explained:

“This obstinacy is absurd. Gbagbo has no future henceforth. Everybody’s dropped him. He’s holed up in his residence. Together with the United Nations, which can be with the helm, we are going to continue to exert pressure on him to face up to reality.”

8.36am: Because the standoff in the presidential palace continues, the pro-Ouattara television station TCI has been putting pressure on Gbagbo/mocking the incumbent president by playing extracts from Downfall, the film about Adolf Hitler’s final days in his bunker in Berlin.

How prolonged will it be before someone creates a Gbagbo-inspired parody with the famous scene where by Hitler launches into a furious tirade upon finally realizing the war is truly lost?

8.23am: Good morning. Welcome to stay coverage of events inside Ivory Coast. Here’s a summary on the latest developments:

• President Laurent Gbago remains holed up inside of a bunker with his relatives and a handful of supporters at his palace in Abidjan. Forces loyal to his rival, Alassane Ouattara, surrounded his residence on Tuesday after UN helicopters attacked Gbagbo’s arms stockpiles and bases.

• Gbago’s spokesman, the UN and the French have all explained the incumbent president is negotiating his surrender. However, inside of a telephone interview with French news channel LCI, the incumbent president insisted “no decision has nevertheless been taken”.

• A ceasefire declared by Gbagbo’s generals in Abidjan yesterday appears for being holding, whilst the UN says there has been “sporadic shooting” by gangs of youths not allied to either the incumbent president or his rival.

• There are fears of a humanitarian crisis with people confined to their houses by the fighting. Food, medical supplies and water are all in short supply in Abidjan. Many people are also without electricity. There have also been armed, xenophobic attacks against west African nationals and Malian migrants, with guns and knives.