The election stalemate in the Ivory Coast continues with no clear end in sight. The European Union is planning sanctions to provide pressure on Laurent Gbagbo to yield to Alassane Ouattara, the nearly universally agreed upon winner of last month’s vote. If sanctions are a clear sign that the outside world has no idea what to do in a crisis (and they are) refugees flooding across nearby borders represents a sure sign that folks inside the country have little faith in a peaceful resolution, and sure enough, Liberia is seeing a trickle of Ivorians become a potential deluge.
Sadly, I think we can expect to see this crisis linger through the holidays. President Gbagbo — your time has past. Go into your retirement believing you have tried your best to serve your people. Don’t let this be the lingering blotch on your escutcheon.
