By Nana N’dow
About two weeks ago, a friend mentioned the elections in Côte d’Ivoire that were to take place this month, on October 31. I was not convinced and quite frankly felt sorry over his joy as I believed the elections were most definitely going to be postponed again like they had been for the past five years.
Today, when many hear Côte d’Ivoire, they think of Didier Drogba, civil war and the mediatic ousting of the French in 2004. However, as one of the biggest cocoa producers in the world, Côte d’Ivoire was once considered one of the most developed countries in Africa. For 39 years, Côte d’Ivoire held strong ties with its former colonial power France and offered a home to many migrants.
The coup in late 1999, which saw the President Henri Konan Bédié being deposed by General Guéi and his supporters, was to be the beginning of the country’s decay. Indeed, the country has since being split in two with the North predominantly Muslim and under the control of the rebels (les Forces Nouvelles) and the South predominantly Christian and under the control of the government.
Ten years later, the country once prosperous has lost most of its glory. Agricultural export affected, ethnic divisions, lack of foreign investment amongst other factors have resulted in Côte d’Ivoire spending a decade in turmoil.
Many believe that the key issue is identification. Northerners who have much more cultural and ethnic affinities with people in Mali and Burkina Faso have rightfully felt discriminated against by the predominantly Baoulé government, but the elections are seen as a rite of passage into the confirmation of their identity as Ivorian and the unification of the country.
Overnight, the official campaign started October 15 and Ivorians feel at last like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The streets are now home to giant posters representing all 14 candidates, to supporters proudly wearing their candidates’ faces on their clothing and all walking with renewed hope. The government has declared October 28-29 as paid non-working days in order to allow Ivorians to get their electoral cards. Will elections at last allow Cote d’Ivoire to say its long waited goodbye to violence, death and corruption? Ivorians have longed to close this chapter of their lives for a decade now. But can any of the 14 candidates be the future of Côte d’Ivoire? Elections front-runners are still the same politicians who have been quarrelling over “whose turn it is to eat their cake”: incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, former Prime Minister Allassane Dramane Ouattara and former President Henri Konan Bédié! Shouldn’t they retire and allow the country to have its renaissance through a young leader? The political discourse in Côte d’Ivoire (like in most African countries) has become a way for these so called “leaders” to enrich themselves whilst claiming to have the solution to the country’s woes. Yet, none of them have been able to resolve the issues; on the contrary, their bickering has further intensified the divide within the country. Their absence of results shows that they are not fit to call themselves the future of Côte d’Ivoire.
Côte d’Ivoire and Ivorians need a young leader with vision, foresight and tangible solutions. It is said that leadership is about a concrete and clear vision and these candidates lack precisely this.
For now, it is best to leave these political dinosaurs for it is with pride that on Sunday 31st of October 2010, Ivorians will march onto the polls and reclaim their country. It is indeed with pride that Ivorians will march onto the polls chanting: “Elections at last!”
