Côte d'Ivoire: Building Peace Through a Federal Paradigm

This paper discusses the protracted crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. It highlights the feasibility of democracy and reconciliation in the country. The article focuses on the spoilers that hinder the peaceful settlement of the conflict that divides the country into two zones controlled by the rebels and the government. Analytical, descriptive, and historical methods form the basis of the methodology. Additionally, content analysis will be used to explain the idiosyncrasies of the stakeholders in the Ivorian political scene. Some researchers and observers of the crisis have argued that the way forward is the organisation of credible elections. However, the main the principal thesis of the paper is that the burning issue is how to reconcile the fractionalised society in a divided country as a way to forge national unity and reconciliation among the various ethno-linguistic and religious groups that constitute Côte d'Ivoire. In the final analysis, the paper suggests a new constitutional arrangement that will be based on a legitimate Federal System for the political leaders to speak the language of peace. The present presidential and unitary system of government that favours a "winner takes all" will be extremely difficult to foster reconciliation and avoid the disintegration of Côte d'Ivoire as a political entity carved out by France.