Profile:Alassane Ouattara(UN Supporting former deputy managing director of the IMF)

http://english.aljazeera.net ^ | 05 Apr 2011 | english.aljazeera.net

[Maelstorm]

Alassane Ouattara, the man recognised by the international community as the winner of Cote d'Ivoire's presidential poll, has continuously been thwarted in his attempts to lead the west African nation.

The 69-year-old began his career in economics, working at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, while also gaining a masters and doctorate in the field from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States.

At the IMF he worked as African Director and as vice-governor, and governor, of the regional Central Bank of West African State, until being urged by Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Cote d'Ivoire's independence leader, to save the country from economic stagnation.

In 1990 Ouattara was appointed the chairman of an economic stabilisation programme, and then later in the year as prime minister, serving under Houphouet-Boigny.

When the president died in 1993, Ouattara made a push for the job, running in elections in 1995 and 2000 as the nominee of the Rally of the Republicans opposition party.

But the new politician, who was viewed as a technocrat and too Western by critics, was disqualified both times because of a ruling that presidential candidates could not have a foreign parent. A court in 1995 had ruled that Ouattara's mother was from Burkina Faso, a claim he has denied.

However in 2002, following the country's civil war, that ruling was amended, paving the way for Ouattara, who had been working as deputy managing director of the IMF, to return to politics.

In November 2010 Outtara ran against Laurent Gbagbo, a Christian from the country's south, in the country's presidential elections. Preliminary results showed that he won, but Gbagbo's party contested them, leading to political stalemate.

Despite the backing of the United Nations and the international community, Ouattara has been left to run an alternative government from the Golf Hotel...

[Maelstorm]

Interesting this guy even had his own 'birther' problem. I was wondering why the UN was so intent on getting this guy into power.

[Retired Greyhound]

He is a foreign usurper.

The people of the Ivory Coast are majority Christian. These Muslim immigrants from Mali and Burkina Faso have been flooding in for the cocoa jobs, and along the way decided to vote one of their own in as president.

The people of the south are not happy about it. They have resisted. There has been violence on both sides.

However, it is now the Muslims who are perpetrating the slaughter. And to think that our own Muslim usurper supported this, and the UN actually opened fire is just appalling.

This is a bassackwards world we live in. Up is down and down is up.

[dfwgator]

I see a pattern. Adolf Hitler, born in Austria, takes over Germany.

Joseph Stalin, born in Georgia, takes over Russia.

[Maelstorm]

Yeah that’s my take also. Why was there not a call for the Muslim rebels to cease and desist also the death tolls appear to be purposely understated. It is like a bizarro world.

[Capt. Tom]

CIA's breakdown of Ivory Coast's religious affiliations:

Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%,
indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est.)

note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)

[Uncle Miltie]

< / Strategic National Interests >

Don’t we have to choose up sides and bomb someone?

< Strategic National Interests >