War Too Lucrative to Contemplate Peace, Says Think Tank

[Robbien]

With Cote d'Ivoire's peace process virtually paralysed and all hopes pinned on a regional summit in Ghana in two weeks time, a top international thinktank has urged other West African leaders to tackle those reaping economic rewards from the current deadlock.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report entitled "No Peace in Sight" (click here for a pdf of the full report), that government figures, rebels, businessmen and members of the security forces were all cashing in on the civil war in Cote d'Ivoire.

The country has been split into a government-controlled south and a rebel-held north for the last 22 months even though the fighting officially stopped in May 2003.

"The political impasse is exceptionally lucrative for almost everyone except ordinary citizens," the ICG said in its report, published on Monday. "Today's political actors have found that war serves as an excellent means of enrichment, and they may be ill-served by the restoration of peace and security."

http://allafrica.com/stories/200407130687.html

[aquart]

1. "Lucrative..."

Yeah. Same here.

[doctorbombeigh]

2. Oh wow....

we must have already brought "American Democracy" to those folks.

[Solly Mack]

3. war is lucrative...just look at those making money in America

from wars all over the globe.

[AlecBGreen]

4. God

Africa is such a mess, even after all these years w/o colonial rule. The people who drew up the national boundries had no concern (or knowledge) of African tribal politics. This horrible situation is sadly occurring all over Africa