Abidjan — It wasn't exactly the kind of disturbance everyone was expecting, but heads quickly turned to see what was coming down the Rue des Jardins in one of Abidjan's wealthiest suburbs on Saturday.
Horns were blaring and a few people who were piled into the back of pick-up trucks in the motorcade were shouting, waving their arms in the air and forming with their hands what could be interpreted as victory or peace signs.
Only one day after the Supreme Court had ruled that only 5 of 19 potential presidential candidates were eligible to contest elections on October 22, the campaign had begun. Laurent Gbagbo, of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party, smiled from the colorful posters that were plastered to the sides of the cars in his party's motorcade.
Gbagbo, who is viewed by many as a political turncoat, on Monday invited other parties to unite behind him in the presidential race. "I solemnly appeal to all democrats in Cote d'Ivoire to come together," he said. For the time being, that's unlikely. The Supreme Court disqualified anyone else who could have posed a real challenge to military ruler General Robert Guei. So, for many Ivorians, Gbagbo is guilty by association.
Guei, who seized power last December and has maneuvered to keep the position he initially expressed no desire to hold, said he was disappointed that many of the opposition candidates would not be participating in the election. He said democracy, however, was on the right path.
Not so for those who had chosen to stand behind the main opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, of the Rally of Republicans (RDR) party, or even Emile Constant Bombet, of the former ruling Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI). Most people expected Ouattara to be pushed aside, but the PDCI's roots are deep and widespread and it came as a surprise to see it passed over.
Despite calls to adhere to democratic principles from the Organization for African Unity, the United States and others, Guei has single-mindedly pursued his own agenda. Most Ivorians see the upcoming elections as little more than theater. The question is how long can Guei maintain his solo act? Gbagbo seems to want to join the show, apparently unaware or not caring that he's just a prop.
