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