COTE D'IVOIRE: VIEWS FROM SMALLER PARTIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000907

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W-EPLUMB AND INR/AA-BGRAVES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PGOV IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: VIEWS FROM SMALLER PARTIES


Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CYNTHIA AKUETTEH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D).


1. (C) Summary. Poloff met separately August 27 with Robert
Guei Bombet, President of the "Renaissance" party (Parti La
Renaissance) and with Francis Wodie, President of the Ivorian
Workers' party (Parti Ivorien des Travailleurs - PTI). Both
lamented the lack of implementation of the Ouagadougou
Political Accord (OPA). Guei Bombet called for the creation
of a transitional government, arguing that new political
actors are needed to bring about change. Wodie stated that
elections are not possible before October 2008 and that there
are rumors of renewed violence that impede disarmament. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) Poloff met August 27 with Robert Guei Bombet,
President of the "Renaissance" party (Parti La Renaissance)
Guei Bombet told Poloff that the Renaissance party was
created in 1987 by a faction that broke away from President
Gbagbo's Popular Ivorian Front (Front Populaire Ivoirien -
FPI). Guei Bombet claims that there are currently
approximately 140 political parties in Cote d'Ivoire. He
lamented that the OPA has not been implemented except for the
formation of the new government. Guei Bombet noted that the
militia have not been disarmed and dismissed the importance
of the elimination of the zone of confidence, noting that the
government still controls the south and the Forces Nouvelles
control the north. He described the situation in Cote
d'Ivoire as a "pacific cohabitation" rather than a true
union. According to Guei Bombet, the "audiences foraines"
(the tribunals that will issue replacement birth
certificates) and the issuance of identity cards should not
be linked and charged that requiring the "audiences foraines"
to complete their work before issuance of identity cards is
just a tactic to delay the identification process.


3. (C) Guei Bombet said the Renaissance party believes that
new political actors are needed to bring about change and
that a transitional government should be put in place
composed of "credible" political parties and "credible"
members of civil society. He told Poloff that the
international community could play a part in determining who
is "credible." Guei Bombet criticized opposition political
parties for accepting government ministries on the ground
that parties that belong to the government cannot mount a
credible opposition. Guei Bombet said La Renaissance
cooperates with the following political parties: the Party
for Progress and Socialism (Parti Pour le Progres et le
Socialisme- PPS),the Ivorian Revival Union (Union des
Ivoriens de Renouveau),the People's Socialist Union (Union
Socialiste du Peuple - USP),the Communist Party, the Ivorian
Workers' Party (Parti Ivorien des Travailleurs - PIT),and
the Movement of Forces of the Future (Mouvement des Forces de
l'Avenir). He noted that the Movement of Forces of the
Future belongs to the government, but said the party "has
realized it made a mistake."


4. (C) Poloff also met August 27 separately with Francis
Wodie, President of the Ivorian Workers' party (Parti Ivorien
des Travailleurs - PTI). Wedie stated that the PTI will
abide by the OPA because the party will support all
agreements that seek peace for Cote d'Ivoire. He accused the
structures that are responsible for organizing the elections
of not being independent of the government and called for
reform of the Constitutional Council, arguing that many of
its members are pro-Gbagbo. Wodie echoed Guei Bombet's
complaint that the OPA has not been implemented. According
to Wodie, elections are not possible before October 2008. He
added that elections results would be disputed if they are
held under the status quo and called for reconciliation
before elections. According to Wodie, there are rumors of
renewed violence, which impede real disarmament.
AKUETTEH