Cote d’Ivoire Is Far from Over

Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Iran have pushed Cote d’Ivoire off the front page. However, the election crisis is far from resolved, and the impasse is proving increasingly detrimental to the lives of ordinary Ivorians. UNHCR estimates thirty-five thousand internally displaced persons (IDPs) and has registered thirty-eight thousand refugees who have fled to neighboring Liberia.

At least four major international banks have put a temporary stop to their operations in Abidjan, and recent reports also indicate long lines at ATMs as many Ivorians prepare to withdraw cash from their accounts. The run on the banks is bound to have a negative impact on commerce and increase the hardship for Cote d’Ivoire’s city dwellers.