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AROUND THE WORLD 2: Peace Talks Bring Hope to Ivory Coast

Peace talks to end conflict in the west African nation of Ivory Coast began in Paris last week. The participants hope to end the war between the government and several rebel groups that started in September. The groups have already agreed to a temporary ceasefire but hope to make it permanent.

Until 1999, Ivory Coast was one of the most stable and prosperous nations in west Africa. It is the world's largest supplier of cocoa, has the second biggest economy in west Africa, and had a stable government for over thirty years. Since 1999 there have been several violent changes in leadership, and in September the discord and fear turned into outright war.

The rebel groups demand that the current president would step down and that the government would hold new elections. The government wants the rebel groups to give up all their weapons.

There are three rebel groups in the country. The largest one began fighting in the north of the country in September, and two smaller ones started operating in the west in November. Leaders from all three are meeting in Paris along with members of the Ivory Coast government, but the president of Ivory Coast is not there.

International observers worry that continued war in Ivory Coast would spread to neighboring countries and cause problems with hunger, refugees, and economic disaster.

France has about 2,500 soldiers in Ivory Coast working as peacekeepers and around 20,000 citizens in the country who they want to protect. France is hosting the peace talks in hopes that the current ceasefire will become a lasting peace.

--Written by Andrew Barker

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