Out of all the frames emerging from Gbagbo’s capture/surrender, the most ridiculous is the one seeking to infer western culpability. At best this theme is one that castigates French forces for their treatment of Laurent Gbagbo and his wife. At worst, some who invoke this theme do so only because in the puritanical halls of the third world, it is not only scholarly to rely on anti-western tropes but patently sexy too.
Looking inward has never been the African way. To me this sounds somewhat paradoxical especially for a continent rich with a culture that constantly reminds people to engage in self examination. In Ghana’s local Twi dialect for instance we often say “s3 aboa bi b3ka woa na efri wo ntoma mu” which means “an animal/insect that bites your skin is most likely to be found in your clothes”For all those still caught up in the high-minded syllogisms of yesteryear, I have news for you. Colonialism is dead. Ant-colonialism is not sexy and neo-colonialism is no hotter. Sure, France might have its own nationalistic interests in Ivory Coast but which country doesn’t? Isn’t that what statehood is all about? No government that cannot identify its dominant national and international policy interests deserves its mandate. Pursuing these goals to the detriment of another state should however not be condoned.
In Ivory Coasts’ conundrum, I argue that the immediate interest of French forces and pro-Ouattara supporters was more similar than divergent. That is, to dethrone the recalcitrant Gbagbo from power.
Why the hue and cry?
Was it western forces that injected Gbagbo with power drunkenness? Was it some western bug that bit him into stubbornness? Which western force made the former history professor cancel elections that were deemed credible by locals and the wider international community? Maybe I missed some aspects of the narrative but I would like to know the western agents that made an African president hide in the bunker of his own building. Perhaps that ruler doesn’t even deserve his position to begin with.
That said all accusations of rights abuse and maltreatment should be fully addressed. I’m not a student of international conflict but I believe even in combat there are rules of engagement. Ever since Boigny died, La Cote d’Ivoire has been on a roller coaster. When people say Ghana’s western neighbor—in peace time—symbolizes African potential, they’re not exaggerating. For the sake of all the people— men, women and children and for the continent’s larger good, I hope Abidjan rises again.
