Defeated Ivory Coast president, Laurent Gbagbo has again taken control of the nation’s cocoa and coffee exports.
Gbagbo announced Monday on state television that only the state could purchase cocoa and coffee from growers, and only the state could export the products, according to media reports.
The news comes as the Ivory Coast teeters on the brink of civil war as a political stalemate from presidential elections last November continues.
The internationally recognized election winner, Alassane Ouattara, in January, imposed a ban on coffee and cocoa exports in an attempt to cut Gbagbo’s access to funding. In February, Ouattara extended the ban until March.
In an analysis, the independent nonprofit International Crisis Group, warned of the possibility of armed conflict between supporters of Gbagbo and Ouattara in coming months. The conflict it said, could involve mass violence against civilians and provoke military intervention from neighboring states.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, unrest in the Ivory Coast has displaced about 300,000 people in Abidjan, the country’s economic capital, and caused 70,000 people to flee to neighboring Liberia.
Gbagbo announced Monday on state television that only the state could purchase cocoa and coffee from growers, and only the state could export the products, according to media reports.
The news comes as the Ivory Coast teeters on the brink of civil war as a political stalemate from presidential elections last November continues.
The internationally recognized election winner, Alassane Ouattara, in January, imposed a ban on coffee and cocoa exports in an attempt to cut Gbagbo’s access to funding. In February, Ouattara extended the ban until March.
In an analysis, the independent nonprofit International Crisis Group, warned of the possibility of armed conflict between supporters of Gbagbo and Ouattara in coming months. The conflict it said, could involve mass violence against civilians and provoke military intervention from neighboring states.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, unrest in the Ivory Coast has displaced about 300,000 people in Abidjan, the country’s economic capital, and caused 70,000 people to flee to neighboring Liberia.
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