Press Statement By the President of the Ecowas Commission On the Current Crises in Cote d'Ivoire

11 February 2011
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Abuja - Nigeria — In response to specific questions addressed to him at the Press Conference that followed the publication by the European Union Electoral Observation Group of its findings on the recent Presidential Elections in Côte d'Ivoire, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency James Victor Gbeho, was called upon to clarify the ECOWAS position on a range of issues concerning the present crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, especially as articulated in the two communiqués of the extra-ordinary summits of Heads of State and Government held in December 2010.

The questions were addressed to him largely because he was at the time on the podium of the event and in his capacity as the Chief Executive of the ECOWAS Commission. In order to stem any further misunderstanding and misinterpretation as we have witnessed in some sections of the international media, the President would like to clarify once again the essence of those responses because they constitute the authentic and unambiguous position of ECOWAS on the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire.

In the first place, ECOWAS has not taken a decision to invade Cote d'Ivoire for whatever reason as has been alleged. ECOWAS decided in its communiqué issued in December, 2010 to keep the issue of force as an option but only after all other peaceful avenues of persuading the out-going President, Laurent Gbagbo, to cede power to Alassane Ouattara should fail. Indeed, the language of the communiqué talks about having no option in such a circumstance but to resort to other means, including the use of legitimate force. This rendition presumes that there are other peaceful measures available to ECOWAS and that legitimate force shall be the option of last resort.

Secondly, the President of the ECOWAS Commission also confirmed that ECOWAS was convinced, after a close study of the results of the second round of the Presidential elections, that Ouattara was the winner of the second round of the Presidential elections, a position subsequently supported by the international community including the African Union (AU), the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, the European Union (EU), the United States of America and others.

Thirdly, ECOWAS has accepted participation in the newly established High Level Panel of the AU but not the proposal to engage in that recount of votes cast at the election because the Peace and Security Council of the AU itself, at its most recent meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, considered this proposal and rejected it. Fourthly, the main challenge facing the international community at this time is how to have power ceded to the rightful winner of the recent election and not to frustrate in any manner the true choice of the Ivorian electorate. It is a position of principle that ECOWAS is very much attached to for the sake of its own collective future.

Finally, the President clarified also that between the current intransigence of both sides of the Ivorian crisis and the possible use of legitimate force in the matter, there are innumerable peaceful options which could be exploited to end the crisis. These are the positions of ECOWAS as were clarified by the President of the Commission at the said function held in Abuja on Tuesday, 8th February 2011. As regards the reference to the warship or military asset also referred to at the same time, the President wishes to stand by what he said since ECOWAS was neither notified of the introduction of the vessel nor its use for peaceful purposes clarified to the regional authorities. As the foremost regional organization involved in finding a solution to the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, ECOWAS could not help but be concerned about the presence of that unique asset in its region and at this time.

Perhaps, what should be assured in future is a prompt flow of communication with the Regional Economic Community (REC) in similar situation. Such information helps to recognize and respect the competence of the particular REC in matters affecting peace and security in its region and avoids any unfortunate impression of impunity. The President of ECOWAS, in conclusion, wishes to emphasize that the above clarification is an essential responsibility of the Commission which it should not shirk on any occasion. That cannot constitute the taking of sides as is being erroneously imputed by certain quarters. The bottom line of the ECOWAS position is indeed to recognize the sovereign will of the Ivorian electorate which should not be lightly taken away.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

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