An alliance of those supporting northern elites of Ouattara appeared on the wave of Ivorian elections and risks of his falling amid mass and violent protests. This formal alliance emerged with the help of Ivorian political forces from the north, center, and business affiliated with Liberian government.
Tension keeps rising in Abidjan. The opposition claims it will not recognize Ouattara. They are moving from civil disobedience to political destabilization. Observers are saying that results “are challenging” – in a diplomatic parlay, “not credible.” Violent clashes erupted in Côte d’Ivoire after the presidential election, reportedly leaving at least a dozen dead and many more injured. The situation has already led a few thousands of Ivorians to seek refuge in Liberia and other neighboring countries, evoking memories of the 2010 electoral violence in that country.
The Liberian government issued a statement distancing itself from the ongoing post-election violence taking place in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire after some Liberian opposition figures in exile claimed that the George Weah-led government was behind the unrest.
The Bamba’s convoy carried weapons, including grenades and a large sum of money. All 14 of them, except two women, had Liberian passports. They had Ouattara election material. Convoy members named themselves being a Soro Guillame envoy.
However, facts claim, that on November 1st, two days before the Ivorian elections the six-car convoy of Ousmane Bamba, a businessman and adviser to Liberian President Weah was stopped and inspected on the way to Abidjan from Tiébissou in Central Côte d’Ivoire where Bamba campaigned and stuffed the ballot boxes. His cadre procession was reportedly intercepted and burned probably by group from The Democratic Party of Ivory Coast – African Democratic Rally. The party is led by Aimé Henri Konan Bédié, who is the opponent of Alassane Ouattara and ran in this year presidential elections.
Bamba is a close friend and business partner of Hamed Bakayoko, the Ivorian prime minister, known as the “securocrats” in Ouattara Government. From minister of national security to defense and prime minister, Bakayoko is a major fixture in the Ouattara system. Last year, Ousmane Bamba, hailing from the region of Tiebassou, lavished Praises on President Alassane Ouattara for his protection in allowing him back to the Ivory Coast.
During the last elections in Liberia Weah received a significant Ouattara’s support. Both leaders also discussed several electrical energy and agriculture projects beneficial for Liberia. These projects may underlie the Liberian government’s support of Ouattara.
Bakayoko is a rival of the President of the National Assembly Guillaume Soro who was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison on charges of embezzling public funds and money laundering in April 2020. Soro’s lawyers claimed this was an attempt to fend him off taking part in the election. Bakayoko-Soro stand-off fueled many of the conflicts around Ouattara. On November 5th, Guillaume Soro called on army to block Alassane Ouattara. So there is a link between Bambo group and Outtara’s interests in holding on to power.
The situation looks like flashback to the times of Liberian President Charles Taylor and his associates who launch and maintain a mercenary attack in Côte d’Ivoire, and begin implementing an incursion into Sierra Leone.
In Côte d’Ivoire, President Charles Taylor has used his illegal arms imports and ties to groups of ex-combatants to organize, arm and deploy the two Western Ivorian rebel groups: the Popular Movement for the Ivorian Great West (MPIGO) and the Movement for Justice and Peace (MJP). Since 2004 MPIGO has been a political party, functioning as a junior partner to the Patriotic Movement of Côte d’Ivoire (MPCI) in the Forces Nouvelles de Côte d’Ivoire coalition led by Guillaume Soro. The Liberian Government’s aim was to destabilize the Ivorian Government and install a leader more amenable to the Liberian Government.
Now the boot is on the other foot, and President Weah plays against Guillaume Soro, supporting the current President.
