U.S. Will Hold New Ivory Coast President Accountable

By Mario Trujillo

U.S. President Barack Obama told current Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara that the U.S. will hold his government to the promise of an international investigation into alleged human right violations since the county’s elections, said William Fitzgerald, deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of African Affairs.

“There is no impunity,” Fitzgerald said during a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights on Wednesday. “And I was pleased to see President Ouattara say that as well. The age of impunity in Cote D’Ivoire is over.”

Ouattara has been holed up in a hotel for the last four months because former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo refused to relinquish power after losing election last Fall. Ggabgo was arrested on Monday, however, by a team of Ouattara, French and United Nations forces.

Ouattara is tasked with investigating not only human rights violations committed by Gbagbo’s regime. His forces have also been accused of committing atrocities.

Fitzgerald said he is confident the investigation can take place without bias. Ouattara has been open to a seperate investigation authorized by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The U.S. has pledged $31.7 million to help with the human rights crisis. More than one million people have been displaced thoughout the country, Fitzgerald said. The French and the European Union have pledged nearly $1 billion to help bolster the Ivory Coast’s economy.

The most pressing tasks in the country now are the creation of political reconciliation and jumpstarting the economy.

Since Ouattara won his election by a narrow 54 percent, his pledge to include a limited number of opposition members in his government will help unify the country, Fitzgerald said. Ouattara must also hold legislative elections as soon as possible so local areas can have representation, the official added.

Finally, a restructering of the military, which was previously under Gbagbo control, and the creation of meaningful employment is essential for lasting stability, Fitzgerald said.

“Otherwise, it’s ‘whoever has the gun wins.’”