Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABIDJAN778
2006-07-18 16:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:
COTE D'IVOIRE: PRO-GBAGBO MILITIAS CONTINUE TO
how-toVZCZCXRO2343 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHAB #0778 1991606 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181606Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1608 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1391 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0326
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000778
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: PRO-GBAGBO MILITIAS CONTINUE TO
OBSTRUCT IDENTIFICATION PROCESS
REF: ABIDJAN 759
Classified By: POL/ECON Jim Wojtasiewicz, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000778
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: PRO-GBAGBO MILITIAS CONTINUE TO
OBSTRUCT IDENTIFICATION PROCESS
REF: ABIDJAN 759
Classified By: POL/ECON Jim Wojtasiewicz, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) The local press July 18 was full of reports of
incidents throughout the government-controlled areas of the
country where pro-Gbagbo Young Patriots militias successfully
blocked the "audiences foraines" -- itinerant courts -- from
going forward with the identification process (reftel),
including one incident in Senfra in the center-west where the
car of one of the magistrates was burned. Nahouhou Perrine,
the Justice Ministry official in charge of the administrative
logistics for the deployment of the teams, confirmed to us
July 18 that all 50 have now been deployed. To the best of
her knowledge, all 31 teams in the government-controlled
areas have so far been blocked from working by the Young
Patriots.
2. (C) In the rebel-held areas, in contrast, the process
appears to be moving forward peacefully. The 19 teams
reportedly arrived in the North July 17. Leaders of the
rebel New Forces (FN) met with them and later that day they
issued a press release declaring their full support for the
identification process and promising to do all in their power
to facilitate the work of the itinerant courts. On July 18,
according to Alain Lobognon, spokesperson for the FN, the
itinerant courts reportedly began working without incident
throughout the North.
3. (C) Comment. Clearly the Young Patriots are heeding the
July 13 call by Affi N,Guessan, leader of President Gbagbo's
Ivoirian Popular Front (FPI) party, for Gbagbo supporters to
use any means necessary to block the itinerant courts.
Indeed, Mamadou Coulibaly, president of the former National
Assembly and another key FPI leader, went further on July 15,
publicly calling on Gbagbo supporters to block not only the
itinerant courts but also the work of the Independent
Electoral Commission to register voters. Gbagbo himself
chimed in July 15 with a fiery speech to an audience of youth
supporters, in which he defended the Young Patriots and
heaped scorn on the United Nations for not forcing the rebels
to disarm. The Gbagbo camp appears determined to block
preparations for elections until the rebels disarm. End
Comment.
Hooks
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: PRO-GBAGBO MILITIAS CONTINUE TO
OBSTRUCT IDENTIFICATION PROCESS
REF: ABIDJAN 759
Classified By: POL/ECON Jim Wojtasiewicz, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) The local press July 18 was full of reports of
incidents throughout the government-controlled areas of the
country where pro-Gbagbo Young Patriots militias successfully
blocked the "audiences foraines" -- itinerant courts -- from
going forward with the identification process (reftel),
including one incident in Senfra in the center-west where the
car of one of the magistrates was burned. Nahouhou Perrine,
the Justice Ministry official in charge of the administrative
logistics for the deployment of the teams, confirmed to us
July 18 that all 50 have now been deployed. To the best of
her knowledge, all 31 teams in the government-controlled
areas have so far been blocked from working by the Young
Patriots.
2. (C) In the rebel-held areas, in contrast, the process
appears to be moving forward peacefully. The 19 teams
reportedly arrived in the North July 17. Leaders of the
rebel New Forces (FN) met with them and later that day they
issued a press release declaring their full support for the
identification process and promising to do all in their power
to facilitate the work of the itinerant courts. On July 18,
according to Alain Lobognon, spokesperson for the FN, the
itinerant courts reportedly began working without incident
throughout the North.
3. (C) Comment. Clearly the Young Patriots are heeding the
July 13 call by Affi N,Guessan, leader of President Gbagbo's
Ivoirian Popular Front (FPI) party, for Gbagbo supporters to
use any means necessary to block the itinerant courts.
Indeed, Mamadou Coulibaly, president of the former National
Assembly and another key FPI leader, went further on July 15,
publicly calling on Gbagbo supporters to block not only the
itinerant courts but also the work of the Independent
Electoral Commission to register voters. Gbagbo himself
chimed in July 15 with a fiery speech to an audience of youth
supporters, in which he defended the Young Patriots and
heaped scorn on the United Nations for not forcing the rebels
to disarm. The Gbagbo camp appears determined to block
preparations for elections until the rebels disarm. End
Comment.
Hooks