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Ouattara Says Nationalizing Ivory Coastâs Cocoa Sector is âStealingâ

   Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa  March 11, 2011
   Ivory  Coast's  internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara
   (R)  chats  with  Koen  Vervaeke, EU's Ambassador to the African Union
   during his meeting with around 30 diplomats on March 11, 2011 in Addis
   Ababa

Photo: AFP

   Ivory  Coast's  internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara
   (R)  chats  with  Koen  Vervaeke, EU's Ambassador to the African Union
   during his meeting with around 30 diplomats on March 11, 2011 in Addis
   Ababa

   Ivory Coastâs internationally recognized president-elect has described
   the  nationalization of the countryâs cocoa industry as âstealingâ and
   promised to reverse a period of economic decline.
   A  day  after  receiving  a vote of confidence from the African Union,
   Alasanne  Ouattara  met  with AU accredited diplomats to brief them on
   his plans as Ivory Coastâs next president. There was no immediate word
   on when he might be sworn in, though the AU Peace and Security Council
   ordered  the head of Ivory Coastâs Constitutional Court to conduct the
   ceremony promptly.
   Speaking  to  reporters Friday, the United Nations certified winner of
   last  November's presidential elections said he would immediately undo
   incumbent  President  Laurent  Gbagboâs  move to nationalize the cocoa
   sector.  He  said  the takeover of an industry that produces more than
   1/3 of the countryâs revenue amounts to theft.
   "Itâs  not nationalization. Itâs stealing. Because clearly as they did
   with  the  banks,  now they are trying to rob people, businesses, both
   Ivorians and foreigners. Obviously theyâre not looking for the welfare
   of the people of Cote dâIvoire but that will change in a few days," he
   said.
   Ouattaraâs  comments  echoed  reaction  of the United States and other
   countries  that have condemned Gbagboâs nationalization move. Experts,
   however,  say the government takeover is unlikely to have much effect,
   since  a  ban  was imposed on Ivory Coastâs cocoa imports after Gbagbo
   refused to recognize the results of the presidential runoff vote.
   Ivory  Coast,  the  worldâs  biggest  cocoa  producer, was once one of
   Africaâs  economic giants. But the cocoa export ban is contributing to
   an overall economic decline during the Gbagbo years.
   Reuters news agency this week quoted a high-ranking French diplomat as
   saying  the  loss  of  cocoa revenue and other international sanctions
   were contributing to a weakening of Gbagboâs grip on power.
   Ouattara,  a  U.S. trained economist and former deputy director of the
   International  Monetary  Fund,  says  his  most difficult challenge as
   president will be healing the wounds that threaten to push Ivory Coast
   back to civil war. But he expressed confidence his economic experience
   would help restore the country to fiscal health.
   "For the economy, my compatriots trust me. They know what Iâve done in
   the  past. They know what Iâve done elsewhere in Africa and the world,
   when I was deputy managing director of the IMF (International Monetary
   Fund),  and  I  have  great plans for Cote dâIvoire and I am confident
   that  in  a  few  years,  the  economy  will be running at a very high
   level," he said.
   But  before he can tackle Ivory Coastâs economic and political crises,
   one of Ouattaraâs first challenges will be getting home. After he flew
   to  Addis  Ababa  this  week,  Gbagboâs  government announced a ban on
   flights  from  United Nations and French planes in an apparent attempt
   to block his return.
   Ouattaraâs  camp,  however,  noted  that the U.N. recognized president
   elect would be stopping in Nigeria on his trip westward for talks with
   President Goodluck Jonathan. They suggested he might return to Abidjan
   by another means. They did not elaborate.

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