South African Government status on the Results of the Presidential Elections in Cote d’Ivoire

National Assembly

For Oral Reply

Question No 13 published in Internal Questions Paper 2 of 2011

Mr KS Mubu to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

(1) What are the reasons for her statement at the media briefing on 17 February 2011 that the election results of the Ivory Coast are inconclusive;


(2) Whether the Government intends recognising Mr Alassane Ouattara as the winner of the election; if not, why not; if so, when;

(3) Whether the Government has met with Mr Laurent Gbagbo following the declaration of the election results; if so, (a) where, (b) when and (c ) what were the outcomes of the meeting

(4) How hoes the Government reconcile its stated commitment to human rights and democracy in Africa with its acceptance of Mr Gbagbo’s refusal to respect the election results;

(5) Whether the Government is taking any steps to ensure that the results are respected; if not, what is the position in this regards; if so, what steps?

REPLY:

The election results of the 28th November 2010 were deemed inconclusive since both Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Allasane Ouattar had claimed victory over the second round of the presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire. This indicated that, the de facto, the outcome of the election was still inconclusive at the time the statement was issued on 17 February 2011.

Since then, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) has now made known the decision of the High Level Panel which was tasked by the AUPSC to find a binding solution to the impasse, namely reaffirming all its previous decisions on the post‐electoral crisis facing Côte d'Ivoire since the second round of the presidential election, on 28 November 2010, recognizing the election of Mr. Alassane Dramane Ouattara as the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. 

As a committed member of the African Union and a member of the High Level Panel, South Africa recognizes Mr Ouattara as the winner of the Presidential Elections in Cote d’Ivoire pursuant to the African Union Peace and Security Council of 10 March 2011.

Prior to the African Union Peace and Security Council decision, President Zuma met with both Mr Gbagbo and Mr. Ouattara in Abidjan on 20 February 2011 as part of High-Level Panel established by the AU on 28 January 2011.  The High Level Panel met again with Mr Ouattara at the AU Summit of 9 and 10 March to which both Mr Gbagbo and Mr Ouattara had been invited.  However, only Mr Ouattara attended. The outcome of the latter meeting was the pronouncement of the final recommendation of the High-Level Panel’s findings by the AUPSC namely that South Africa has welcomed the decision of the AUPSC, which endorsed the recommendations of the AU High-Level Panel on Cote d’Ivoire.

In reconciling our commitment to human rights and democracy, South Africa supports the AUPSC decision which recognises Mr Ouattara as the winner of the second round of the Presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire, and calls on all parties, including Mr Gbagbo to implement the decisions of the AUPSC in order to end all atrocities and other violations of human rights, threat and acts of intimidation.

South Africa will continue to supports the African Union Peace and Security Council and the regional body ECOWAS as custodians for the implementation of the AUPSC. We have all faith that these bodies will take appropriate steps to ensure that the decision of the AUPSC on the post-electoral crisis in Cote d’Ivoire are upheld and respected by all parties.