Chaos in CIV

Bonsoir. Je m’appelle Anoh Marie-Claude Sokona Nicole et j'étais né et je suis de la Côte d'Ivoire. For those who know me well, you know that I am from Côte d'Ivoire (CIV) and that though I am an American citizen, I will state that I’m African, Ivorian specifically, before saying that I’m American. When I went home this past winter break, I remembered my dad always being glued to the computer or his laptop, listening to broadcasts and reading about the crisis in CIV and though I thought he was too focused on it, I now have been consumed with that same thirst to find out what is going on in my country at every single moment. From Abidjan.net to CNN, to BBC, to the Slate, I have been glued to my laptop, following every single move that is going on in CIV. These past couple of weeks, people have been asking me what I think about the crisis in CIV, how I feel about and if I’m in favor of a certain president. I normally just plainly say “I don’t want to talk about it but it saddens me” but with the events that have occurred these past few days, I feel that I should get off my chest how I feel .

My feelings
First and foremost, I am very saddened by the turmoil that’s been occurring in my country. When I left my home town of Abidjan years ago to move to the United States, I remember a peaceful place, with friendly people, kids going above and beyond in schools to the point that you were teased by other students and teachers if you not the best student in the class, a country vibrant, full of spirit, and proud of its culture. During the time that I lived in CIV, we were under our first and greatest president thus far, Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Under his leadership, the country was able to become of the prosperous nations on the west coast of Africa. I haven’t been back to CIV since the turmoil first began back in 2001 or so but for my friends and family members who do go back, they have told me that the country I once knew is nothing like the country that they grew up in and go back to visit. I’m saddened by this recent chaos because innocent people—my people, are dying! The majority of my family is still in CIV and I fear for their safety and for their life! Because of the chaos that’s been going on since 2002, people have been jobless, the conflict between the North and the

<--WARNING VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC!! Secondly, I am ANGRY that the French and the UN felt the need to go and bomb CIV (see article Bombing in CIV) . The UN “peacekeepers” and France stated that they were bombing incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo’s military camps in order to protect the people but civilians have died BECAUSE of the bombings!!!  The UN and France are also using “chosen” president Alassane Ouattara’s army to take hold of Gbagbo and his force but from the looks of it, Ouattara’s army is killing civilians. Some of the people who are surrounding Gbagbo’s presidential palace and are on his side are YOUNG KIDS who are walking around with bats or whatever makeshift weapons they can find and they’re being attacked by Ouattara’s camp and outside supporters of Ouattara. Bombing certain parts of a country is not the best solution when trying to obtain “peace!” This whole mess of “who is the actual president” that has caused nothing but problems since November, has forced many Ivorians to flee and take refuge in neighboring countries such as Ghana, and Liberia (See Ghanaweb.com , CNN World and Voanews.com).

The presidents
Laurent Gbagbo- Became the second president of CIV in 2000 and the country was under his “leadership” for 10 years.

Why I like him
Umm…..

Why I don’t like him
He’s been president for 10 years and has accomplished nothing. Houphouët-Boigny died in 1993 and left the country in great shape so everything should have been easy for the following president but that wasn’t the case. Gbagbo was elected as the president by the people in order to overthrow Robert Guéï and his presidency saw a civil war between the “rebels” in the north and the his government in the south. Since his presidency, there has been nothing but chaos but he continues to live comfortably at home. When I lived in CIV, there was one point in which I lived with an aunt and uncle on my father’s side and we lived around the corner from Gbagbo’s home. I remember that his home was so beautiful on the outside and when I peaked on the inside, it was just the same and I remember that he was building upon and around his house so that it reached a full block or two. Up until today, he sat comfortability in his home that he was STILL making additions to, while the people, his “people” are suffering. I just haven’t seen any strong progress from him for the country over the years but he has a lot of supporters so maybe I’m missing something. Also, if he had stepped down like the world was asking him to, maybe all of this current bloodshed would have been prevented!

Alassane Ouattara-“true president”
Why I like him
…….

Why I don’t like him
Circumstances over his actual “victory” as president are still very shady. I keep reading that the Independent Electoral Commission declared him winner while the The Constitutional Council found Gbagbo to be the winner because of some fraud votes that took place in the northern part of CIV, which is where Ouattara’s forces are. I’m reading and watching more videos about Ouattara winning due to fraud than I am about him winning fair and square. Everyone from outside of CIV favors and sees Ouattara as the president. Why? Most of the violence that has occurred in CIV was created because Ouattara’s army were on a quest to conquer territories that belong to Gbagbo. In the last couple days, news has arisen that Ouattara’s army killing hundreds of civilians but Ouattara claims that Gbagbo’s camp did this. I believe there is a lot of blood on the hands of Ouattara yet this is the “democratic president” that the world wants to take control of CIV. With the latest developments of more bodies being found around Ouattara’s camp, there is talk that a genocide similar to Rwanda’s might and will take place in CIV (See article Telegraph.co.uk ). Yes, due to the clash between Ouattara and Gbagbo’s army, people were killed (see articles Vancouversun.com and Africanewscircle.com) but I do believe that Ouattara and his army killed INNOCENT people on purpose and are doing some very shady things.

Final thoughts
My country once was called the paradise of Africa and now we’re on the State Department’s list of countries that you shouldn’t fly to. Even if you wanted to go to CIV right now, you wouldn’t be able to since the airports are closed. People are fleeing around the clock, banks are closed, businesses are closed, people have barricaded themselves in their homes since last Wednesday and Ouattara’s army has imposed a daily curfew that begins at noon every day (See article Guardian.co.uk). Hours ago, some sections of Abidjan was hit with water and power being cut off. It appears to me that my people are suffering more at the hands of Ouattara and his supporters than anybody else. I just hope that my country can one day gain some stability and rebuild itself to an even better country than it was when I was there. In the meantime, I pray for my family and I pray for my people. Long live CIV.