David Masango
31 July 2007
South African President Thabo Mbeki joined a number of other African leaders in Bouake, Ivory Coast on Monday as President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro burnt weapons at a symbolic peace ceremony marking the end of five years of civil war in the country.
The "Flame of Peace" ceremony kicked off the disarmament process in the Ivory Coast, paving the way for reunification and elections to be held next year.
Before Soro entered Gbagbo's government - following a painstaking peace process at one stage mediated by Mbeki - he headed the Forces Nouvelles rebel group that held a large part of the north of the country.
Mediation efforts under the leadership of President Blaise Campaore of neighbouring Burkina Faso led to the signing of a peace deal between the parties in March this year.
One of the accord's key provisions is that elections be held next year.
During a visit to South Africa in June, Soro told reporters that Monday's ceremony would act as a new beginning for peaceful relations in the Ivory Coast.
Following the ceremony, Mbeki was scheduled to hold discussions with Soro on progress in the national identification and disarmament processes.
Source: BuaNews
