Ivory Coast: The noose is tightening, but Gbagbo stands firm

By on December 20, 2010

Laurent Gbagbo is stepping up in his confrontation with the international community. The self-proclaimed president has demanded the immediate departure of the UNOCI peacekeeping force and the “Licorne” French military force from The Ivory Coast.

Gunmen, dressed in military uniforms, shot at a U.N vehicle while it was patrolling, and the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has warned of the consequences that would provoke a such attack against the UN forces. For his part, the African Union Commission president, Jean Ping, gave Gbagbo a letter from President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), asking him to leave. More cautiously, the Americans and the Europeans have stepped up with more warnings towards the incumbent president. The Americans have indicated that he had a “limited time” before being subjected and his close collaborators to drastic financial sanctions, like freezing assets and visa restrictions. In the same way, the European Union has targeted Gbagbo’s entourage, but also planned to paralyze the State functioning, as stopping the pay of the military next month. Thus, the message is all clear. The international community is aiming to hit the Gbagbo’s resistance where it can really hurt – Money, the cause of conflicts and wars…

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