The only reason you are supporting Laurent Gbagbo in the current Ivory Coast crisis is that you think you are supporting a Christian against a Muslim (Alassane Ouattara). Without getting into the politics of who won the election (since that is not your motivation anyway), here are some facts that you should probably consider:
- Laurent Gbagbo, is a die-hard Socialist. His party was a member of The Socialist International until they finally dropped it fro
m his roster after much criticism when Gbagbo would not cede power after losing the elections. During his years in opposition, much of his support came from the French Socialist party where he still has close friends. - Laurent Gbagbo is a Bigamist. His first wife Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, a trade union activist, is a Christian. In 2001 while still married to Simone, he married Nadiana Bamba, a Muslim, in a traditional animist ceremony following Malinke customs. He is still married to both and they both earnestly campaigned for him during this last election. (Gbagbo and his two wives pictured above)
- Alassane Ouattara is a Pro-American Capitalist. In fact,the main accusation people
have made against Ouattara is that he is too close to the West and is considered to be a puppet. Ouattara studied in the US, where he got his Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate. He was married to an American and lived in the US for many years. His current wife, Dominique Nouvian Folleroux whom he married in 1990 after divorcing from his American wife, is a French Jew. She is an entrepreneur with business interests in the US (the Jacques Dessange franchises). (Dominique and Alassane Ouattara pictured here)
Religion was not a campaign issue during the Cote d’Ivoire elections which was more a choice between prosperity (Ouattara) and Nationalism (Gbagbo). Should you want to support Gbagbo for political reasons or because you really believe he won the election, then argue away.
Neither Gbagbo nor Ouattara is a saint. But if you think that in supporting Gbagbo you are supporting a fellow Christian, then you are mistaken, you are simply backing a Socialist Bigamist.
Picture credits: Sanogo/AFP - L. Gnago/Reuters - DR
Interesting and informative article.
ReplyDeleteWatching Senator James Inhofe speak on the Senate floor, I also had the feeling he is biased. It was unnecessary for him to say, "... let's keep in mind--- the challenger Ouattara is from the north - the Muslim area..." The "Muslim" aspect of the north was not worth highlighting.
That said. I don't think there's something wrong with supporting a "socialist bigamist". There's something wrong with supporting an incumbent President who clings to power despite coordinated calls from the AU, ECOWAS, EU, and UN for him to relinquish his firm grip on power.
Dear African Entrepreneur
ReplyDeleteThanks for clarifying the situation. I couldn't understand what the dispute was and had concerns over what the West was backing but Gbagbo is an idiot. He should not call himself Christian. I hope the new leader will be good to his people. He seems like a tolerant guy.
You are completely wrong, Gbagbo is Christian and as African this is a shame that you support such situation of Military Coup done by france. in 2011, if people like you can not understand a constitution basic rules, just let your country become a colony as before that's all. Sarkozy in France is actually facing the different political representatives in Senat to justify the role of France in this story. This is due to the fact that this actions were completely illegal. Please read the impact of France action in Ivory Coast in international newspapers, you will have some light. And his behavious is constant, read documentation of Bouake situation in the previous years.
ReplyDeleteSo with you highlighting that Gbagbo's second wife is a muslim, how different are you from Senator Inhofe highlighting that Ouattara is a muslim?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, there is no such thing a the lesser of two evils. Evil is Evil and each blood shed by both side is equal in God's eyes. Both of them should be tried by the Int Criminal Court.
You cant justify the actions of any of them, by religion, political activism or marital.