Mbeki arrives to mediate in Côte d'Ivoire

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki arrived in Abidjan on Sunday to mediate in Côte d’Ivoire’s disputed presidential election. The African Union has charged Mbeki with finding a solution to the standoff between Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, who are both claiming the presidency.

AFP/Ashraf Shazly

“I’m actually very worried about it," says analyst Richard Cornwell from the Institute for Security Studies. "I don’t think Mbeki has been a successful negotiator in the past. In Côte d’Ivoire his previous negotiation was little short of disastrous and I don’t think that he’s covered himself in glory in the Sudan.”

He adds that the mediators will take into account the realities of power on the ground, and that the army appears to be behind Gbagbo.

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Richard Cornwell, Institute for Security Studies

Michel Arseneault

Results released this week give the victory to Ouattara, but the constitutional court overturned them by annulling allegedly rigged ballots from the north. Gbagbo has defied international calls for him to hand over power after the African Union, the United Nations and the European Union recognised Ouattara as the winner.

Gbagbo was sworn in as president on Saturday while Ouattara swore himself in in a rival ceremony. Prime Minister Guillaume Soro handed his resignation to Ouattara, who immediately reappointed him.

“In recent days, I have noted serious cases of interference,” Gbagbo said after being sworn in. “I am charged with defending our sovereignty and I will not negotiate on that. I wish various people would pull themselves together.”

At least 17 people have been killed in the country since last week. The country’s borders remain closed and foreign news broadcasts within the country have been jammed.