[ 2011-04-12 ]

ECOWAS defends France's role in Gbagbo’s arrest
President of ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Victor
Gbeho, has cleared France of any wrongdoing in the
capture of embattled Former President of Ivory
Coast, Laurent Gbagbo.

Reports remain unclear over who actually captured
Mr. Gbagbo.

Earlier reports in sections of the media had
indicated that French Special Forces captured the
Former Leader and handed him over to pro Ouattara
forces.

But France has denied the reports. Mr. Gbagbo is
currently being held with his family under UN
guards at the Golf Hotel, which is housing his
political rival, Alassane Ouattara.

Mr. Gbagbo surrendered after a military assault on
his residence in Abidjan. He had provoked a crisis
by refusing to cede power, insisting he had won
November's presidential election.

The Socialist Forum of Ghana has criticized
France’s role in the capture describing it as
illegal and a breach of international law.

But the President of the ECOWAS Commission
Ambassador Gbeho told Citi News accusing France is
too early since the captors are not known.

“One has to be careful about which version one
supports because there are many stories as to who
actually captured Laurent Gbagbo. Whatever it is,
there is a covenant between ECOWAS and the African
Union with President Ouattara that at any time
that we reach a point like this, Gbagbo will be
treated with dignity that a former Head of State
deserves”.

“As to the legality of French presence and
action, I am firmly of the belief that they had
the fiat of the UN Security Council to be in Cote
d’ Ivoire. And the action against Laurent
Gbagbo’s Forces in was also duly authorized by
the Security Council so I don’t believe that
they acted ultra vires” he stated.

But Security Analyst, Dr. Kwesi Ennin disagrees
with Ambassador Gbeho. He told Citi News France
did not have the authorization to act in that
manner.

“France’s support for Ouattara is not for
Ouattara. France wants a poodle that will ensure
that they get contracts where they will not be
subjected to the rules of contracting which are
things that Gbagbo changed. They want to buy
things cheap and kick out the Chinese who are
playing a major role in the Ivorian economy. The
net result of what will happen is that, by the
time Mr. Ouattara leaves office either through
another war or an election, certainly Ivory Coast
will be in a thirdly world shape” he said.

“The Resolution 1975 that strengthened the UN
forces in La Cote d’ Ivoire did not authorize
France Forces to do what they have done. I think
Ambassador Gbeho has gotten it wrong and it is
with this attitude that we have seen an ECOWAS
that is leaderless and has failed in protecting
West African interests” he noted.

In a related development, a group calling itself
Coalition Against Foreign Intervention in Africa,
will demonstrate against happenings in Ivory Coast
and Libya.

Organizers have called on all progressive forces
and African patriots to join the march which takes
place in Accra.

Source - Citifmonline

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