Cote D'Ivoire: AU Chairperson Visit Abuja And Abidjan

Cote D'Ivoire: AU Chairperson Visit Abuja And Abidjan

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Jean Ping, is today Thursday, leading a high powered delegation to Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire .

The visit is a follow-up to the decision of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU Commission.

A statement by the AU in Addis Ababa , said the team would hold a meeting with Nigeria 's President and the Chairperson of the ECOWAS, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Mr. Victor Gbeho, the President of ECOWAS Commission in Abuja . 

On completion of its mission in Abuja , the team will travel to Abidjan to meet with the Ivorian parties.

The meeting would discuss issues concerning the return of peace and security in Cote d'Ivoire .

The statement said Ping has been in contact with a number of AU multi-lateral and bilateral partners including the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and other African leaders on how to solve the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire .

Ban Ki-moon decries stalemate

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern about the political stalemate.

The UN secretary-general, in a statement on Wednesday, restated his call on all the Ivorian parties and their supporters to exercise patience and refrain from any action that could provoke violence.

He reiterated his call on Gbagbo to respect the will of the Ivorian people and step down to allow President-elect Ouattara assume office. 
Ban said he was in close contact with the Ivorian stakeholders as well as regional and international leaders in their firm demand for a peaceful end to the crisis and respect for the will of the people.

Ivorian incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo has refused to concede electoral defeat to Alassane Ouattara in spite of pressures from the international community.

Ouattara is locked in a bitter power struggle with Gbabgo whose party overturned election commission results that had given Ouattara a 10 per cent lead.

Two ‘parallel governments'

Both ‘presidents' have named their governments with Gbagbo's staff occupying government buildings and Ouattara's administration operating from inside a hotel in Abidjan .
  
On Tuesday, media reports said Ouattara called on his supporters to stage mass street protests later in the week. This is part of an effort to take over state broadcasting services and government buildings.
  
The UN, France, the US, European Union, African Union and regional bloc Economic Community of West African States have all recognised Ouattara as president.
  
Côte d'Ivoire , the world's largest cocoa exporter, was split by civil war in 2002 into a government-controlled south and a rebel-held north. The recent presidential election was expected to complete a UN-backed process of reunifying the country and restoring stability.

NAN/Yinka