Ernest Bai Koroma, president of Sierra Leone, and Alassane Ouattara, president of Cote d'Ivoire, discuss the post-conflict growth of their respective countries, as well as their individual involvement in the African Union.

Ernest Bai Koroma, president of Sierra Leone, and Alassane Ouattara, president of Côted’Ivoire, discuss the post-conflict growth of their respective countries, as well as their individual involvement in the African Union.

Ernest Bai Koroma, president of Sierra Leone, and Alassane Ouattara, president of Côted'Ivoire, discuss the post-conflict growth of their respective countries, as well as their individual involvement in the African Union.

In looking at the successful resolution of the political standoff in Côte d'Ivoire, most commentators have focused on the role of France and the UN.

CFR senior fellows Jendayi Frazer and John Campbell discuss the implications regarding the recent capture of former Ivorian President Gbagbo.

Gbagbo's arrest in Ivory Coast vindicates the results of the Ivorian elections and sets a positive precedent for other African states, says CFR's John Campbell. However, Alassane Ouattara must deal with hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and determine how to govern a severely divided country.

Jendayi Frazer says South Africa and the United States must step in to end the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire.

Conflict in Ivory Coast appears to be nearing a head, with internationally recognized presidential winner Alassane Ouattara poised to triumph. But CFR's Jendayi Frazer notes that inaction by the Security Council is "hypocrisy," particularly in light of its stance on Libya.

John Campbell discusses the election standoff in Ivory Coast.

Jendayi Frazer and Nicolas Berggruen discuss Africa's crisis of governance and argues, "For fundamental reform, Ivory Coast should take a cue from China, not just the West."

John Campbell says credible polls in Ivory Coast were a step in the right direction, but the runoff vote for the presidency will be the true test.

This International Crisis Group report on the political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire provides an overview or recent developments in the peace process and recommendations on how to advance peace in 2009.

After numerous failed peace attempts, Cote d’Ivoire forged a “homegrown” peace agreement this spring, raising questions about the role of international mediators in Africa peace processes.  

The Human Rights Watch reports on the continuing political and military crisis in the Côte d'Ivoire. Currently, the country is split between the government-controlled south and a rebel-held north, with the United Nations controlling the zone in between the two factions. Neither the government, the leaders of the rebel New Forces, nor the international community have made any progress to establish accountability for the myriad international human rights violations against civilians between November 2005 to March 2006. Impunity prevails throughout the Côte d'Ivoire as elections approach this Fall.

Protests that left UN and French peacekeeping roops in Ivory Coast under seige have raised questions about a mission that had been cited as an example of a successful intervention.