Vindicating the disbelief in the current Ivorian Peace process that DJCI has repeatedly expressed during the last couple of years, last minute attempts to find a solution to the deep crisis that affects the Côte d’Ivoire -in New York on September 20, and with ECOWAS in Abuja on 6 October- have again not been successful. Faced with this reality and the failure of UN Security Council Resolution 1633-based transition, the UN has now indicated that a further transition of one year is envisaged, with elections expected to be held before a new 31 October 2007 deadline.

Two important dates now lay ahead: the meeting of the AU in Addis Ababa on October 17 and the UN Security Council meeting on October 27 which is to pass a resolution on the management of the new transition.

Ahead of these crucial meetings, DJCI and its Ivorian Civil Society Convention (CSI) partners wish to call upon the international community to carefully assess the current situation and make courageous decisions that will finally be able to bring peace to the people of Côte d’Ivoire, extenuated by over four years of unjust suffering. The new transition must not allow prolongation of the status quo and the continuation of the conflict for another year.  It would destroy the country to an irreparable extent and deeply damage the whole West African sub-region. This would be intolerable.

It is clear that unless strong and courageous new elements are introduced by the international community as a replacement of the current Linas-Marcoussis process, there will again be no result.

DJCI therefore suggests the following changes to the failed Linas-Marcoussis process:

Of top priority

Establishment of a National Dialogue Forum, a deliberative and consultative mechanism that include representatives of all levels of Ivorian society: civil society, traditional leaders, workers syndicates, the private sector, professions, agriculturalists, religious leaders, political parties, etc to outline future constitutional and governing arrangements after the expiration of Resolution 1633. This will allow Ivorians themselves to seek a solution to the crisis, avoiding the tensions caused by foreign-inspired peace proposals and existing constitutional arrangements.

1. Establishment of a transitional government of competent, non-partisan, technocrats of good morality, strongly backed by the international community.
2. Allocation of significant resources to the promotion of reconciliation on a nationally inclusive basis.
3. Creation of a special disarmament, armed, and security forces restructuring commission to oversee necessary actions in this sector.

Like his colleagues of the Ivorian civil society; DJCI President Mr Modest Gnamé Seri, appeals to the international community to acknowledge the suffering of the people of Ivory Coast and to support the strong changes that the desperate situation requires.  A new page needs to be turned if success is to be finally achieved.  “I am confident that the intense suffering of the past years is bringing the majority of our people to a level of spiritual growth necessary for internal peace. This will allow them remember the humanity of their fellow human beings and to forgive their transgressions. The conditions are therefore ripe for peace. We now need an appropriate framework. Please assist us to obtain it”, Mr Seri appealed to the AU and UN membership as well as to the internal an external actors in the armed conflict.

Abidjan October 15, 2006

Diaspora et Jeunesse de Cote d’Ivoire (DJCI), Président, Modeste Gnamé SERI,