In Cote D’Ivoire, New Year may bring a new Africa

The situation in Cote D’Ivoire is heating up. It has the potential either to herald a new future for West Africa, based on democracy, regional cooperation and a rejection of ethnic mobilisation; or to showcase the continent’s violent and undemocratic past. Hitherto there have been signposts pointing in both directions.

On the one hand, Laurent Gbagbo is clinging on to presidential power, after having been in office for ten years on a questionable mandate. Willing to politicise the army and exploit ethnic differences, his strategy is straight out of the continent’s “big man” playbook of politics. On the other hand, Alassane Ouattara, the country’s rightful leader, has refrained from using playing the ethnic card. Importantly, regional leaders – including Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan – have led international efforts at restoring democratic rule to Cote D’Ivoire.

In an excellent IHT op-ed, Jendayi Frazer, a former Bush administration official, explores the underlying problems plaguing not only Cote D’Ivoire but a number of African countries.