Ivorian-Born Didier Drogba Deplores The Political Situation Of His Country

Chelsea's striker Didier Drogba on Tuesday deplored the current political deadlock his country is passing through in the wake of the November 28 presidential run-off, which occasioned an unprecedented situation where two presidents and two prime ministers are running parallel governments in the west African country, with an imminent danger of a military confrontation.

The former captain of the Elephants said he was frustrated with the outbreak of another crisis in a country emerging from eight years of civil war.

"I feel very bad and frustrated with what is going on in Cote D'Ivoire at the moment," he said. "It's deplorable. We're in an unprecedented difficult situation the Ivorian people can't deal with. I'm speaking as a citizen of Cote D'Ivoire and I think it is unfortunate to find ourselves in this kind of impasse again after all our sufferings.

"We spent the last 10 years in difficult crises, and going into November 28 presidential election, we felt we were coming out to know true peace, but it seems our thoughts were wrong," he said.

Drogba's reputation cut across tribal and regional barriers in the country, and his image had been used by many peace promoters before and during the historic presidential election.

After eight years of armed conflict which partitioned the country into a rebel-controlled north and government-run south, a presidential election meant to reunify the once peaceful haven of the sub-region was held on October 31 and a run-off on November 28.

The electoral commission declared opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara winner but the result was overturned by the Constitutional Council in favour of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo. Both men swore themselves in as presidents and have named their ministers.
Last night ECOWAS suspended Cote de Voire from its membership of the organisation and recognised 0uattara as the duely elected president.
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