Time to treat Gbagbo like the outlaw he is

Posted Tuesday, January 18 2011 at 19:19

The attack in Abidjan on Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s security detail brings home to us in dramatic fashion both the delicacy and dangers of trying to broker peace in Côte d’Ivoire.

Mercifully, the attack by youths loyal to embattled President Laurent Gbagbo posed no real danger.

But the very fact that such an assault could be directed against a peace envoy representing the African Union and protectors from the United Nations military contingent illustrates the kind of impunity that must be contained.

The lesson here is that the international community must not be scared off. They must become even more emboldened in their intervention.

Mr Odinga was on his second trip to the country as an AU representative in an effort to break the deadlock since President Gbagbo refused to hand over power to his challenger, Mr Alassane Ouattara, after a pliable court overturned the results of the November election in his favour.

Ecowas, the African Union, the United Nations and much of the international community has called on Mr Gbagbo to respect the will of voters.

There have been threats to use military force, but diplomatic means must remain the first option. But diplomacy alone can’t work unless accompanied by the big stick.

Tuesday’s incident is a reminder that Mr Gbagbo should not be treated with kid gloves.

Economic and travel sanctions targeting him, his family, key members of his government and political and military chiefs must be applied relentlessly.

Efforts to remove Mr Gbagbo must also not fail to take into account the complex regional and ethnic mix of Ivorian politics.

The entire mission must still be anchored on enforcing the will of the people, not merely removing one leader and replacing him with another.