OPPOSITION ACKNOWLEDGES IMPOTENCE IN THE FACE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 001377 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL UN IV SUBJECT: OPPOSITION ACKNOWLEDGES IMPOTENCE IN THE FACE OF GBAGBO'S REJECTION OF 1721 REF: A. ABIDJAN 1349 ¶B. ABIDJAN 1351 Classified By: Ambassador Aubrey Hooks, Reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador December 11, Alphonse Djedje Mady, spokesman for the RHDP (Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace) coalition of opposition parties, acknowledged the opposition's frustration and lack of resolve to fight against President Gbagbo and his FPI (Ivoirian Popular Front) party. Mady called the current government a "dictatorship" and emphasized that the tandem between Gbagbo and Prime Minister Banny is broken, since Banny is working within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1721 while Gbagbo rejects it. He dismissed the recent efforts by FANCI (Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire ) Chief of Staff Mangou to mediate among the political actors and emphasized that the army should play no role in politics. "The state no longer exists," Mady lamented. He said Mangou's interventions are further evidence that the government has failed to support reconciliation of all parties. He did, however, note that when Mangou met with RHDP leaders he did acknowledge the criminal activity and intimidation being carried out by the thuggish, pro-Gbagbo FESCI (Cote d'Ivoire Federation of University and High School Students). ¶2. (C) Mady also complained that the security and defense forces are becoming increasingly brutal in stopping opposition street protests and even seem to be targeting individual opposition organizers in their homes before protesters actually make it to the streets. He called the situation worrisome and unpredictable, and warned that if Gbagbo thinks he can stay in power without a mandate, "he will need to get rid of all of us." ¶3. (C) COMMENT: In fact, Mady and the rest of the political opposition have little leverage in the political process and look largely to the international community to take the initiative in moving Cote d'Ivoire out of crisis. END COMMENT Hooks