Abidjan — The ECOWAS Commission has proposed a road map to address the post-conflict challenges faced by Cote d'Ivoire, which includes restoration of peace and security, repatriation of refugees and settlement of displaced persons.
At meetings with government officials in Abidjan on Tuesday, 23rd August 2011, the President of the Commission, His Excellency James Victor Gbeho, elaborated on the two-phased approach road map, with the first phase focusing on the restoration of peace and security, particularly along the country's borders with neighbouring Ghana, Guinea and Liberia, as well as the issue of arms proliferation.
The other two elements of this phase include addressing the humanitarian consequences of the country's post-electoral crisis such as the repatriation of refugees and the settlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as the promotion of national reconciliation. President Gbeho emphasized that addressing these issues would contribute to promoting internal cohesion which is the foundation to regional integration being pursued by ECOWAS.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire uprooted hundreds of thousands of Ivorians with many fleeing to neighbouring countries. The President who is at the head of a high-level ECOWAS delegation on a three- day assessment mission to Cote d'Ivoire reaffirmed ECOWAS' support as the country grapples with humanitarian and economic challenges. "We are here out of a sense of duty to celebrate the return of peace to Cote d'Ivoire and exchange views on how to make this more permanent", he said during a ceremony at the start of the delegation's visit.
In the spirit of the region's vision for a people-driven Community, the President said ECOWAS was obliged to partner with Cote d'Ivoire, the fourth largest financial contributor to the organization, not only to address the post-crisis challenges, but also in ensuring that good governance and improved welfare were delivered to the citizens irrespective of their affiliations. "We are here to place at your disposal our experience and capacity and not to teach you how to run your country nor foist pre-conceived ideas on you", he said at the ceremony which preceded a meeting of the delegation with senior government officials on various thematic issues.
Earlier, the Ivorian Minister for African Integration, Mr. Adama Bictogo, said the country was now dealing with macro-economic challenges in the aftermath of the December 2010 political crisis, adding: "The ECOWAS team is here to work with us to find a solution to these challenges". The Minister praised the regional organization for its principled stance on the disputed outcome of the election, saying that this reinforced its credibility as an organization dedicated to the promotion of democratic principles.
On peace and security, he said the country wanted to address the challenges along its border with Ghana, Guinea and Liberia and expressed confidence that the 10th September 2011 mini-summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja would help resolve the lingering issues. Mr. Bictogo also spoke about the expected role of ECOWAS in the repatriation of refugees, the settlement of IDPs and national reconciliation, which he said would all contribute to the promotion of national cohesion. He said the Ivorian government expects that the organization would not only contribute to the resolution of these issues, but would also help mobilize international financial support for national and regional post-conflict reconstruction efforts. The ECOWAS delegation had earlier met separately with the Minister for African Integration, his colleague in charge of Justice, Mr. Jeannot Ahoussou and the Minister of State and Secretary General at the Presidency, Mr. Amadou Coulibaly.
Before concluding its mission, the delegation is scheduled to meet with the President of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Mr. Charles Konan Banny, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Daniel Duncan and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Charles Diby.
