President Obama issued a sternly worded order for Ivory Coast’s besieged former President Laurent Gbabgo to relinquish his claim to office and end the violence in the West African country amid reports that he and his top generals are negotiating a surrender.
“To end the violence and prevent more bloodshed, former President Gbabgo must stand down immediately, and direct those who are fighting on his behalf to lay down their arms,” Obama said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Every day that the fighting persists will bring more suffering, and further delay the future peace and prosperity that the people of Cote D’Ivoire deserve.”
Obama expressed deep concern about reports of Gbabgo-led massacres in the western region as the former president has struggled to hold unto power in the weeks and months after losing a run-off election to Alassane Outtara. Obama said he supported the role of UN peacekeepers, as well as the French military, which are attempting to protect civilians under assault from Gbabgo loyalists.
The United Nations declared Outtara the winner of a November run-off vote, but Gbabgo has refused to recognize his defeat.
In the wake of Obama’s statement, the BBC reported that Gbabgo’s generals have issued a cease-fire as French forces have bombarded strategic points in the city of Abidjan. Gbabgo’s top generals are attempting to negotiate terms of their surrender that would guarantee safe departure and refuge.
