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Bank intervenes in Ivory Coast dispute
Source: Agencies |
December 25, 2010, Saturday
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LAURENT Gbagbo's access to state funds has been cut off, stepping up pressure on the man who refuses to concede defeat amid postelection violence in Ivory Coast that has killed at least 173 people and prompted fears of civil war.
The move is expected to increase pressure on Gbagbo, and complicate his efforts to pay civil servants and soldiers.
Allies of his political rival, Alassane Ouattara, hope the move will set the stage for mass defections if people don't get their salaries.
Officials with the West African economic and monetary union made the announcement after an emergency session, and later said in a statement that only representatives of Ouattara's government will have signing privileges on state accounts.
The regional bank, known by its acronym BCEAO, regroups the treasuries of eight West African countries.
There has been much speculation in recent days as to whether Gbagbo would be able to pay state salaries, despite nightly assurances on state television that the paychecks would be available before Christmas.
On Thursday morning, several banks in the capital Abidjan posted notices in their windows saying that they would not be cashing civil servant paychecks because they hadn't received a guarantee from the government that they would be reimbursed.
Lines of civil servants formed outside the banks, and just after noon people started receiving their money.
While Ouattara has the backing of the international community, Gbagbo still controls the country's military and also has dominated state media. However, on Thursday, Gbagbo-controlled state television was taken off the air in most cities outside Abidjan.
It was not clear how the signal was cut off. Advisers to Ouattara refused to comment, but the event falls in line with strategies Ouattara has been employing to try to break Gbagbo's stranglehold on media sources.
A week ago, Ouattara's supporters tried to take control of state TV, which had run continuous footage of Gbagbo taking the oath of office in the days after he declared victory without mentioning that his claim was contested.
The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Thursday calling for an end to the violence in Ivory Coast.
The US State Department has ordered most of its personnel to leave because of the deteriorating security situation and growing anti-Western sentiment. France and Germany have also recommended that their citizens leave the country.
The move is expected to increase pressure on Gbagbo, and complicate his efforts to pay civil servants and soldiers.
Allies of his political rival, Alassane Ouattara, hope the move will set the stage for mass defections if people don't get their salaries.
Officials with the West African economic and monetary union made the announcement after an emergency session, and later said in a statement that only representatives of Ouattara's government will have signing privileges on state accounts.
The regional bank, known by its acronym BCEAO, regroups the treasuries of eight West African countries.
There has been much speculation in recent days as to whether Gbagbo would be able to pay state salaries, despite nightly assurances on state television that the paychecks would be available before Christmas.
On Thursday morning, several banks in the capital Abidjan posted notices in their windows saying that they would not be cashing civil servant paychecks because they hadn't received a guarantee from the government that they would be reimbursed.
Lines of civil servants formed outside the banks, and just after noon people started receiving their money.
While Ouattara has the backing of the international community, Gbagbo still controls the country's military and also has dominated state media. However, on Thursday, Gbagbo-controlled state television was taken off the air in most cities outside Abidjan.
It was not clear how the signal was cut off. Advisers to Ouattara refused to comment, but the event falls in line with strategies Ouattara has been employing to try to break Gbagbo's stranglehold on media sources.
A week ago, Ouattara's supporters tried to take control of state TV, which had run continuous footage of Gbagbo taking the oath of office in the days after he declared victory without mentioning that his claim was contested.
The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Thursday calling for an end to the violence in Ivory Coast.
The US State Department has ordered most of its personnel to leave because of the deteriorating security situation and growing anti-Western sentiment. France and Germany have also recommended that their citizens leave the country.
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