Why dialogue between Gbagbo and Ouattara has broken down

摘要

No one in Abidjan is commenting officially on relations between Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara but there can be no doubt that they have deteriorated significantly since the third quarter of this year. The two men have not spoken since 7 August, Ivorian Independence Day, when Gbagbo took advantage of the occasion to call Ouattara. This phone call took place only ten days after their "historic" meeting on 27 July. A few days before this meeting, it was Gbagbo who had taken the initiative to call the Ivorian head of state, after nearly ten years without dialogue. Although they had both previously agreed to have dinner together in the autumn, the tete-a-tete never took place.