Photo I AFP Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the AU mediator for Côte d’Ivoire, talks to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan at State House, Aso Rock, in Abuja on Sunday. Mr Odinga arrived in Abuja earlier in the day to meet with Mr Jonathan. Details of their talks were not immediately clear.
By AFP and PMPSPosted Monday, January 17 2011 at 21:00
In Summary
- AU mediator to consult with other countries including Ghana, Angola, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Kenya after talks in Côte d’Ivoire.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the African Union mediator for Côte d’Ivoire, has a “new peace offer” for strongman Laurent Gbagbo.
Mr Odinga, however, declined to provide details on the offer to be presented on his second mediation bid since the country’s crisis began following the November presidential elections.
“In Abidjan, I will deliver (the) AU message to Gbagbo,” he said about an hour before his departure from Abuja, where he met Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, the chairman of the West African bloc, Ecowas.
“The mission is another trial to see if we can make a peaceful resolution to the crisis. We will see his reaction to the new peace offer we will make to him. We are hopeful to resolve the crisis.”
The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has threatened the use of force if Gbagbo does not step down in favour of his internationally recognised rival Alassane Ouattara.
It was unclear how long Mr Odinga would remain in Côte d’Ivoire, with his spokesman saying that would depend on what happened during the talks.
Mr Odinga said that after his visit to Côte d’Ivoire, he was likely to travel to other countries including Ghana, Angola, Burkina Faso and Kenya, for consultations on the crisis.
He did not say why those countries would be visited. Ghana, an Ecowas member, has ruled out sending troops to Côte d’Ivoire, while Angola has been one of the few countries to show support for Gbagbo.
Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore has previously served as mediator in Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr Odinga is scheduled to hold talks with the contenders for the country’s presidency Mr Gbagbo and Mr Ouattara later on Tuesday evening.
He left Abuja for Abidjan in the afternoon where he is to meet Mr Gbagbo before heading for another meeting with Mr Ouattara.
It is believed that the key to peace lies in honouring the expressed electoral will of the Ivorian people, and in African leaders continuing to speak with one voice in supporting the principled positions Ecowas and the AU had agreed on.
Said Mr Odinga: “The resulting disillusionment with electoral process risks spreading instability on the continent.”
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