I hope I can still catch you with this short reply. Regarding religion vs. ethnicity, it was just my bad composition in using 'northerner/southerner' every time (and lazyness in getting accustomed with the names of major ethnic groups), the impression that the religious division is the key was unintended, I'm sorry 'bout that. But your assessment that Ouattara and Bédié and Gueï were playing who-blinks-first is just a kind of on-the-ground-based correction I expected. So one question: were/are there any significant political groups (even if with no chance at leadership of the country), or even civilian groups, with a markedly cross-ethnic base? (Oh, and a connected question: what I read and put into my November 2004 blog post regarding Ouattara having been most popular, would you say that that was - if it was true at all and not pro-Ouattara spin - because of the relative size of the ethnic groups behind him?) *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
I very much doubt that there are civil or political forces with a cross-ethnic base. This is one of the reasons why the Marcoussis peace treaty was dead before even being implemented : the rebels (read opponents) had managed to negotiate portfolios within the new government that would have emerged from the agreement. The President accepting that, plus the fact that the agreement was perceived as fostered by France, brought discredit to the peace treaty. The President was considered felon by his own supporters, for he had accepted participation of a different ethnic group, and not only because they were rebel representatives. When through hell, just keep going. W. Churchill
