Mercenary involvement won't be tolerated, govt

The South African government was investigating reports that a number of its citizens were involved in mercenary activity in strife-torn Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), said the ministry of foreign affairs.

Recent media reports have said about 200 South African mercenaries were believed to be assisting the government of President Laurent Gbagbo fight off a rebellion in that country.

The South African government was taking the reports seriously, foreign affairs spokesman Ronny Mamoepa told IRIN.

"We can confirm we have received reports of possible involvement of South Africans in the Ivory Coast [conflict]. We are indeed looking into the matter and we reiterate that should there be any South Africans involved in that situation, the Foreign Military Assistance Act [of 1995] provides for arrest and prosecution," Mamoepa warned.

The legislation makes it illegal for South Africans to fight for a foreign country or organisation without government permission. The government would not "countenance the export of war" by mercenaries to any part of the continent or the world.

If convicted the perpetrators could face jail or a fine, although "sentences were the prerogative of the courts," Mamoepa said.

Should the involvement of South African mercenaries be proven, it would be somewhat embarrassing for Pretoria. As Mamoepa noted, South Africa is the current chair of the African Union (AU) and therefore heavily "involved in the AU processes to create peace and stability in the Ivory Coast".

The rebel war in Cote d'Ivoire broke out on 19 September, when a force including former members of the Ivorian military failed in a bid to overthrow Gbagbo but took over the towns of Bouake and Korhogo in the centre and north of the country respectively.

A ceasefire agreement signed by the insurgents and mediators from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this month, paved the way for talks last week in the capital Abidjan between Ivorian and ECOWAS officials followed by negotiations this week in Lome, Togo, between the rebels and representatives of the state.