Donors unblock $43 million for Ivory Coast polls (23/04/08)

 

Donors including former colonial power France, the European Union and Japan unblocked 27 million euros ($43 million) in aid to Ivory Coast on Wednesday to help the country organise post-war elections due in November.

 
 
The announcement was made during a visit by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who praised the West African country's leaders for progress towards holding long-delayed polls following a 2002-03 civil war which split the nation in two.

President Laurent Gbagbo announced just over a week ago that a presidential poll would be held in the world's top cocoa grower on November 30.

The vote has been repeatedly delayed because the southern-based government had said it could not organise polls in the rebel-held north.

'I am reassured by the progress the Ivorian parties have made ... this progress marks a good start on the long and difficult road to the crucial November 30 election,' Ban said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Guillaume Soro.

Soro, the country's former rebel leader, thanked donors for providing the funding and said it would provide the government with some breathing space as it prepared for the polls.

'We still have some way to go,' Soro said, adding that completing a disarmament programme and reuniting the country's economy and finances were top priorities.

Some analysts question whether Ivory Coast will manage to meet the November 30 election date, with critical issues behind schedule including the thorny question of ensuring all citizens have identity papers enabling them to vote.

'While not wholly unrealistic, the November 30 date for the presidential election will be difficult to attain,' think-tank International Crisis Group said in a report on Tuesday.

Source: Reuters

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