Annan questions abilities of those leaders who foment discord in Côte d’Ivoire

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has challenged the political leadership across the board in the Côte d’Ivoire to stop the destabilization of the West African country.

Having made a two-day stop in Niger to see the extent of the serious food shortages there, he was asked at a news conference about Cote d’Ivoire and he questioned how “men who call themselves leaders” could allow their country to be torn apart.

The peacekeeping UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) has denounced declarations calling for a coup in the West African country as exacerbating existing social and political tensions and impeding efforts to restore peace and stability to the divided country.

Published news reports say dismissed General Mathias Doué, who was in an undisclosed location abroad for several months, issued the threats against President Laurent Gbagbo’s Government.

With presidential elections scheduled for 30 October, UNOCI said the declarations were designed to endanger the untiring efforts of the African Union’s (AU) mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and other key international actors to restore peace and stability in the country.