THE crisis in Cote d’Ivoire seemed to have gone a step towards resolution with the capture of the former President Laurent Gbagbo who was shown on television on Monday night under the control of economist Alassane Ouattara  who the United Nations backed in his claims to victory in the 28 November elections.

Before Monday’s final push that pulled out Gbagbo from a bunker in his home, another civil war in the world’s largest cocoa producer was imminent.

“After more than four months of post-electoral crisis, marked by so many human lives lost, we are finally at the dawn of a new era of hope,” Ouattara said in a radio and television address to the nation. “Every measure has been taken to assure the physical integrity of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, his wife and all those arrested,” he said. “They will receive dignified treatment and their rights will be respected.”

Ouattara  wants to establish a truth and reconciliation commission. Gbagbo, 65, could be made to answer for his soldiers’ crimes. Even though an international trial could increase the divisions Ouattara must heal, it provides the best option in terms of Gbagbo getting a fair hearing. Gbagbo has been accused of crimes against humanity and other atrocities.

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor had launched a preliminary investigation into the violence in Cote d’Ivoire. Both sides have been accused of massacres during the standoff and ensuing conflict.  Mass graves reportedly found near Abidjan and hundreds  were killed or raped in the western town of Duekoue.

“This is an end of a chapter that should never have been,” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. “We have to help them to restore stability, rule of law, and address all humanitarian and security issues.”

Gbagbo, former history professor and long time opponent of ex-dictator Felix Houphouet-Boigny, came to power in 2000 after a controversial election in which army general Robert Guei also claimed victory. Thousands of protesting supporters helped Gbagbo to enforce his victory. He had overstayed his mandate by five years when he called last year’s election and won 46 per cent of the runoff vote. The country’s election commission and international observers declared on December 2 that he lost, he rejected the results.

“It’s also good news for democracy because it means that in the 10 or so African countries that will hold elections in coming months, one can be sure that the democratic election results will be respected,”  Ban said of the outcome in Abidjan.

Ouattara, a former prime minister under Houphouet-Boigny and deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, may face pressures from those who want to see Gbagbo punished for his role in the crises.
He must not buckle to such pressure. The reconciliation of all parties to the conflict is important. Gbagbo should be treated with respect and any judicial process that follows should be fair.

The lessons from Abidjan include the involvement of the United Nations in enforcing electoral results, even if they entail use of force. African rulers should embrace democracy and abide by its dictates. If that were the case in Cote d’Ivoire, the crisis would have been avoided.