Ivory Coast, Part 4

Seven weeks have transpired since the election that has caused this conflict and subsequent media attention. If you are unfamiliar with the situation in Cote d'voire (Ivory Coast), then check out the previous parts one, two, and three. I am going to pick up where I left off a week ago.

In the last two days, tensions has caused over 14,000 people to flee to Liberia and a strike posed by presidential winner, Alassane Quattara, to force incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo to abdicate power. What we need to understand is that Gbagbo is not willing to relinquish power, which sadly, has been common in many third-world countries. Now the rest of the UN, United States, and the most of the Western world supports, Quattara; he's even supported by rebels in Liberia and Burkina Faso.

Gbagbo is only supported by a minority of the country, though much of that includes the Ivorian National Guard. Did I also mention he is a Christian? For one time in the course of events, the Christian is not willing to relinquish power and authority. And let's not forget that the Western world, support a Muslim. (I say this because I find there to be a sense of irony in this situation. It is definitely open for discussion, yet religious affiliation doesn't matter to me. Just here to point out facts.) 

:Now let's check out the two current situations:

1. 14,000 Ivorians flee to Liberia.

Natives are fleeing to a country known very well for it's own political instability, as well as numerous civil wars. Though they are supported by the United States, clashes have been staged between rebel groups and refugees. As of this moment, radical and militant groups exist, but have been relatively tame and docile for the past five years. Sadly, refugees are what sparked the civil war and subsequent skirmishes that have happened on Liberian soil. 

2. Posing a strike.

Here is the fundamental problem with a strike. The country, as stated before, is split into two belief systems, those who belief that you have to be pure-blood to be Ivorian and those who believe that Ivory Coast can be a refuge for other countries in the South. These two groups are divided as well by religion and by political affiliation. The idea of pure-blood, 100% Ivorian is held by incumbent president Gbagbo, and percentage of the Christian south. Civil war has already occurred on this basis before so a strike could, theoretically, exacerbate this ethnic tension.   
 
The reality is this is a verifiable "Catch-22," without hope of a peaceful situation, this can go real ugly, real fast. There is a real need for a peaceful situation, for without which, two, maybe three countries could be sparked into hostility and possibly, civil war. We must be vigilant about pursuing peace, to negotiate, to reconcile.

Why must right and wrong be so important? Why do we favor power and control over humanity and life?