The Ivory Coast presidential elections went pear-shaped. In a close poll, challenger Alassane Ouattara was deemed to have won. But incumbent Laurent Gbabgo refused to accept the result. Then followed a farce with both 'winners' having themselves sworn in in separate ceremonies. The international community and neighbouring west African states (Ecowas) have turned against Gbabgo, with the latter threatening to remove him by force. Gbagbo, a history PhD, originally opposed Ivorian strong man Felix Houphouet-Boigny in the 1990 presidential election but lost easily. He tried again in 2000 but the military leader Robert Buei claimed victory. Gbagbo's supporters took to the streets and turned Buei out. Civil war followed between the Muslim north and Christian south. A sort of peace was eventually restored and after several postponements a new election was announced for 2010. The country again stands on the brink of turmoil. Ivory Coast produces over a third of the world's cocoa and the post-election uncertainty has helped push the price up towards $3000/tonne. Chocolate-lovers beware! The QSL is from Radio Abidjan, heard in Cape Town in 1970, when Houphouet-Boigny was still well in control.
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