A Note From Abidjan

A Note From Abidjan

Dr. Gary K. Busch 21/6/11

Local sources report that several former Gbagbo supporters are still being picked up by the forces of the new FRCI (the band of rebels, sociopaths, rapists and murderers who are the new Ivoirian Army) on a regular basis. There are not many who return. Among these are many of the former FDS (loyalist Army forces). These former FDS troops are paid (in cash as always). The FRCI wait until they have been paid before they are "disappeared".

There is a battle going on between that pitiiful framcophile hand puppet, Ouattara, and the FRCI and Soro the Prime Minister. The Forces Nouvelles (which was morphed into the FRCI) kept its bank accounts in Ouagadougou. These are being kept by the leaders of the FRCI who refuse to turn them over to Ouattara. Moreover, the FRCI rabble still operate unofficial checkpoints for the Ivorian goods which are being smuggled in and out through the borders and on which no taxes, customs or levies are paid to the government. The drug money being collected by Wattao and Vetcho (FRCI generals and warlords) continues to be moved to Burkina Faso. Add to this the smuggling and illegal export of cocoa and one can see that the Ivorian economy (outside of energy) is one giant criminal exercise.

The French are happy to see this continue as they are re-asserting their monopoly control or the water, electricity, transport and port industries. Abidjan is a hotbed of French greed and rapacity. The hotels are full of them.

In addition there is a whole new criminal enterprise growing. Since the rebels destroyed almost all the government records as they watched the French and the UN attack Gbagbo and his armed forces, there is no longer any proof of ownership of land tenure. The rebel leadership is now selling off private lands and a lot of government-owned property to Lebanese buyers. They have the cash and can afford to wait to sell these on; sometimes  to their former owners. The country is one giant racket If the Ivory Coast had a RICO statute there would not be enough paper in the country to print the indictments of the guilty.

In the meanwhile Ouattara and his friends are concentrating on preventing the ICC from investigating or punishing the outrages and abuse of human rights by the rebel forces. He is demanding that they be sheltered from investigation and that only pro-Gbagbo forces are investigated. Perhaps they should all read the Ivorian Constitution which prohibits any jurisdiction of foreign courts over Ivorian citizens,

It is difficult to believe that even an institution as corrupt and degenerate as the UN had this in mind as an outcome of their 'humanitarian intervention'. One shouldn't expect more from the French but surely there are nations in the UN who will find this as appalling as most Africans find it. Perhaps they should do something. They could start by denying that incompetent fool Ban Ki Noon another term. He has done his quota of harm already.