Abidjan — As they set off on their latest journey to Cote d'Ivoire's central rebel-held town of Bouake, West African peace mediators said they were optimistic they would return with an agreement between the government and the rebels "to halt hostilities".
It may not be the comprehensive ceasefire deal proposed in the first round of regionally-brokered mediation, but Senegal's foreign minister, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, told AllAfrica as he climbed aboard a French military transport plane, that he was optimistic and hopeful. "I feel we have the commitment of both sides, so let's pray".
Senegal is the current chair of Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States. The Ecowas executive secretary, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, told AllAfrica that he was also hopeful about the outcome of Thursday's meetings and the prospects for peace between the government and the rebels. "We would like to believe that when they give us their word, when they give us their assurance, they mean it."
Asked for more substance on the deal, Chambas added "The agreement contains the essential principles for bringing about peace, namely that there should be a halt to hostilities and a commitment by both signs to accept the process of dialogue and negotiations and we hope that both sides will constitute their representatives, so as to engage in direct talks".
Though details of the agreement have not yet been made public, it appears that the government and rebel camps would maintain their positions during a period of cessation of hostilities, leading to a full ceasefire and negotiations and possible encampment of the rebel troops.
The tricky issue of when, and if, the mutineers surrender their weapons has been one of the sticky points in the latest round of negotiations. The first failed after the government refused to sign a ceasefire deal unless the rebels disarmed.
Gadio has been engaged in frantic diplomacy over recent days, shuttling between Abidjan, the economic capital and seat of government and the rebels' stronghold in Bouake, talking to both sides about an agreement. Chambas has been meeting government representatives, and President Laurent G bagbo, in Abidjan.
Meanwhile loyalist government and rebel forces have been locked in combat on the ground, with the key cocoa town, Daloa in the west, falling alternately into rebel and now army hands. It was confirmed Wednesday that the Ivorian security forces were once again in control of Daloa, having seen off dissident troops.
But, a month to the day since the outbreak of fighting and the start of the rebellion, the rebels still hold about half of the country, from Bouake to Korhogo in the north
AllAfrica's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton was at Abidjan military airport Thursday morning for the departure of Gadio, Chambas, and the Ecowas deputy executive secretary, General Cheick Oumar Diarra, as well as other mediation officials.
The Senegalese Foreign Minister shared his thoughts as he headed once again towards Bouake and another meeting with the rebels, hoping to get a truce signed.
How are you feeling as you leave for Bouake?
I'm excited, I'm very optimistic and very hopeful and I think that we will come back with very good news for Cote d'Ivoire and for Africa as a whole. We are one family and we are so close, so close to the goal. I can only ask everybody who is listening to pray for us and to believe that we are very close to wrapping up this whole thing and getting back to where we should have been at the beginning - giving a hand to each other and fighting for Africa.
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So should we expect a ceasefire and peace?
Yes, most definitely.
Definitely?
From what we heard from everybody, everybody is truly prepared for that and committed to that.
What happens after the truce in Bouake, if you get one?
Afterwards, once we secure a cessation of hostilities, you know the government has committed itself to dialogue. The contact group of Ecowas, at the highest level, will step in and just do a wonderful job and get a global settlement plan. Basically we are just very, very, very optimistic.
But are you sure you have the commitment of both sides this time, because regional mediators have got this far before and the whole thing has collapsed?
Yes, yes.
