Peace talks nudge rivals closer to disarmament

After high-level peace talks Ivorian and regional officials have called for a single programme to tackle disarmament and national identification – up to now major stumbling blocks to peace – but fell short of hammering out a schedule for the process. Previous talks aimed at facilitating presidential elections in October have faltered over rebel demands that a process of identification must be completed before they would give up a single weapon. The rebels – who control the north since staging a failed coup in 2002 – argue many northerners have been disenfranchised and marginalised by the government of President Laurent Gbagbo and targeted by security forces. The latest talks, held at the weekend in the main city Abidjan, were attended by African Union Chairman and Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President Gbagbo, rebel leader Guillaume Soro, Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny and the two main opposition leaders. “We have understood that it is important that, under the authority of the government and the prime minister the two processes of disarmament and identification are undertaken concurrently, simultaneously and without delay,” Sassou-Nguesso told reporters on Saturday. But the leaders failed to set a deadline for the start of the UN-backed process to disarm thousands of rebel and pro-government militia fighters before polling day. Some 4,000 French and 7,000 UN peacekeepers keep the two warring sides apart maintaining a buffer zone running across the middle of the country and monitoring a shaky cease-fire. Prime Minister Banny took office in December after international mediators grew impatient over repeated failures in peace negotiations. His first three months have produced some significant advances, but analysts say that disarmament remains his biggest challenge. Banny began a three-day visit to France on Monday where he is expected to meet with French President Jacques Chirac and Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie as well as international donors.