The conflict in the Ivory Coast looks as though it is now coming to and end. Former
president Laurent Gbagbo was arrested yesterday by French officials supporting President Alassane Ouattara, after weeks of violent
fighting. Gbagbo lost re-election last November to Ouattara but refused to give up power. Gbagbo, who was in office for more than a decade, will now be investigated for possible war crimes and
crimes against humanity.
This is a momentous event. The continent’s post-independence “big men” had, over decades, become accustomed to permanent power. If they lost an election, they simply threatened (or encouraged) violence until a power-sharing deal was cobbled together which allowed them to stay in office. For examples see Kenya and Zimbabwe. The Ivory Coast looked as though it would follow the same path. The fact that it now won’t is immensely encouraging.
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