Cape Town, January 24: Former South African President Thabo Mbeki says negotiation is the only way of settling the political dispute and preventing a civil war in Ivory Coast.
Mbeki said on Sunday that the “current standoff is not one of good people versus bad people” and talks between incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and his rival Alassane Ouattara is the best way out of the deadlock.
Mbeki, who has been assigned by the African Union (AU) to mediate the power struggle in Ivory Coast, made the remarks in his report to the African Union chairman Jean Ping and warned that the lives of many people will be at stake without negotiations.
Last Monday, Gbagbo announced his readiness for talks with Ouattara as proposed by Kenyan mediator Prime Minister Raila Odinga, but the acceptance has so far got no response from Ouattara.
Tensions in Ivory Coast commenced after the November 28 vote. The international community recognized Ouattara as the winner, but Gbagbo has refused to hand over presidency to his rival amid mounting pressure on him to quit power.
All efforts by the AU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have failed to persuade Gbagbo to peacefully step down.
ECOWAS has repeatedly announced it would resort to force if Gbagbo continues to cling to power, but some diplomats have raised doubts about the capabilities of the West African body in materializing the threat.
——–Agencies