\n A forum on Ivory Coast's future wrapped up on Friday with an appeal for the country, scarred by a civil conflict more than a decade ago, to stay on the path of peace.\n<\/p>\n
\n Running for two and a half months, the talks brought together the government, around 20 political parties and more than two dozen civil-society organisations.\n<\/p>\n
\n It came after a spurt of political tension, including deadly electoral clashes that stirred traumatic memories of the country's brief but bloody conflict in 2011.\n<\/p>\n
\n A report endorsed by participants urged political forces \"to depart from violence as a means of acceding to power\".\n<\/p>\n
\n It also called for work to compensate victims of the 2020 electoral violence and efforts to strengthen \"democratic culture in Ivorian society.\"\n<\/p>\n
\n One of the economic stars of West Africa, Ivory Coast plunged into a crisis when incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo refused to yield after losing elections to rival Alassane Ouattara.\n<\/p>\n
\n A short civil conflict flared, claiming 3,000 lives, ending when Gbagbo was arrested and flown to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity.\n<\/p>\n
\n Violence erupted anew in 2020, leading to 85 deaths, when Ouattara sought a third term of office -- a bid that critics said breached constitutional limits.\n<\/p>\n
\n With the country in dangerous gridlock after Ouattara, 80, re-elected after a near-total boycott by the opposition, Gbago, 76, returned home after being acquitted by the ICC.\n<\/p>\n
\n Welcomed by his former rival, he donned a statesman-like role and the two staged a meeting that declared the turbulent past was over..\n<\/p>\n
\n The \"dialogue\" that ended on Friday was showcased as a chance to cement the mood of reconciliation.\n<\/p>\n
\n The report said the talks took place \"courteously, in a good atmosphere and a climate of peace\".\n<\/p>\n
\n Prime Minister Patrick Achi claimed that \"Ivory Coast has turned the page -- it is once again that country of peace, hospitality and progress\".\n<\/p>\n
\n All the main political parties took part in the forum, although Gbagbo, as head of the African Peoples' Party (PPA-CI), and fellow former president Konan Bedie, head of the Ivory Coast Democratic Party (PDCI), were represented by stand-ins.\n<\/p>\n
\n Despite the improved tone of Ivorian politics, some dark clouds remain -- Gbagbo has recently hurled several barbs at Ouattara, notably condemning his third presidential term as a \"civilian coup d'etat\".\n<\/p>\n
\n The next elections are at local and regional level in 2023, while the next presidential ballot is due in 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A forum on Ivory Coast's future wrapped up on Friday with an appeal for the country, scarred by a civil conflict more than a decade ago, to stay on the path of peace. Running for two and a half months, the talks brought together the government, around 20 political parties and more than two dozen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[553],"tags":[],"ji_location":[],"class_list":["post-88296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-feed"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n