BuaNews (Tshwane)
David Masango
31 July 2007
President Thabo Mbeki and a number of other African leaders have witnessed the symbolic burning of weapons at the "Flame of Peace" ceremony in Bouake, Ivory Coast Monday.
The ceremony is meant to mark the country's reunification following years of conflict, which saw the control of the country being divided between the government and rebels.
The ceremony also kick-started the disarmament process throughout the Ivory Coast; and accelerates the national identification process ahead of the upcoming elections there.
Before the current Prime Minister Guillaume Soro entered President Laurent Gbagbo's government of Ivory Coast after a painstaking peace process that was at one stage mediated by President Mbeki, he headed the Forces Nouvelles rebel group that held a large part of the north of the country.
Arguments over nationality in the country have previously stalled the process of holding elections, as the criteria on which Ivorians could claim Ivorian nationality of leading candidates had been contested.
The question of nationality was initially an obstacle used to bar opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, a former prime minister and leader of the Rally of Republicans party, under a constitutional change that stated that Ivorians needed to prove both parents were born Ivorian nationals.
Following earlier mediation efforts by President Mbeki as chairperson of the African Union (AU), Ivorian President Gbagbo said this definition would be loosened.
Mediation efforts under the leadership of President Blaise Campaore of neighbouring Burkina Faso led to the signing of a peace deal between the parties in March this year.
One of the accord's key provisions is that elections should be held next year.
During his visit to South Africa in June, Ivory Coast Prime Minister Guillaume Soro told reporters that the ceremony could act as a new beginning for peaceful relations in the Ivory Coast.
Immediately following the "Flame of Peace" ceremony, President Mbeki is scheduled to hold discussions with Prime Minister Soro on the progress in the national identification and disarmament processes, the Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.
Mr Mbeki, supported by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, joined Presidents Gbagbo and John Kufuor as Chair of the AU also attended the ceremony.
On conclusion of discussions with Prime Minister Soros, he travelled to Yamassoukro, Ivory Coast where he participated in the graduation of the 37th Battalion.
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