About a year ago, there was much hope that the division of Cote d'Ivoire between the rebel-held north and government-held south would come to a close at the end of this year. Sadly, this has not happened. The country remains divided, with ever widening gap among the various political groups and factions.

The appointment of Mr Charles Konan Banny in December 2005 to lead an interim government to disarm non-state fighters on both sides, re-unify the country, draw up electoral register and prepare for election that would bring about a national government gave much hope that the then four-year old conflict was close to an end. Mr Banny who was until his appointment the head of the French West Africa Central Bank in Dakar, Senegal was seen as a political outsider untainted by the partisanship of most of the Ivorian political elite. His appointment was not only hailed by the international community but welcomed by all Ivorian political groups. Mr Charles Banny, backed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1633 had a strong mandate to implement on schedule, all the activities leading to the normalisation of the country. Elections which would be the culmination of the peace process were scheduled for the 30th of October, 2006; but they were not to be.

In addition to the mandate of the Prime Minister, the UN resolution spelt out clear sanctions against any individual or group that might want to derail the peace process. Also, in an ostensible accommodation of the ruling party, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), the president, Mr Laurent Gbagbo, whose mandate had actually expired on the 30th of October last year, was asked to stay on, but with very little or no role at all in the peace process that was to be driven by the interim prime minister. From the first day of his appointment, Mr Banny ran into a stonewall. He had to appoint a government from the different political parties and the armed rebel group that styled itself the New Forces Movement.

For more than a month, he knocked heads together and finally cobbled together a government in early January of this year. But the howls and growls that greeted his appointment of an interim government were early warnings that he was on slippery ground. And so it turned out to be. After one year, the process has been ordered by the international community to start all over again. Mr Banny's fractious government was sacked last month after the scandal of toxic waste dumping in the capital city, Abidjan was discovered. Although he has stayed on, nothing has been accomplished in the last one year.

The Economic Community of West African States meeting in Abuja recently described the UN-driven peace process as a failure. The African Union Peace and Security Council meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa last week described it as such, but recommended the provision of a fresh impetus for the process.

Meanwhile in Cote d'Ivoire, the political tension appears to be rising. There has been reported demonstration by about 10 opposition groups urging President Gbagbo to step down, while his supporters under the platform of the Young Patriots took to the streets recently, asking the interim prime minister, to resign. All these are worrying and we have genuine fears for Cote d'Ivoire, even when we are obviously for reconciliation, re-unification and stability of the country. Our fear is further accentuated by the armed rebels' vow not to return to the government or participate in the peace process.

It is important for the rebels and other political groups and factions to return to the negotiating table. We also appeal to all political leaders to help reduce tension by not encouraging street protests. Cote d'Ivoire for about four decades was an example of peace and stability in the sub-region and its current travail is very bad for the West African region.

Finally, we urge the international community, but especially ECOWAS and the AU to be firmer in identifying obstacles to the resolution of the crisis while doing everything to break the current impasse in the long-drawn out peace process in that very important African country. This last chance must not be allowed to slip through again.