In 1994, regardless of history and geography, an Ivorian nationality clause was added to the constitution to the effect that any candidate for the presidency in 1995 must be Ivorian by birth and born of parents who were themselves Ivorian by birth. A referendum was held on 23 July and a new, even harsher constitution was voted in. The opposition parties had all called on the people to vote for it, probably because they secretly hoped the eligibility criteria would rule out their rivals. For the first time in the country's history, organisations have been set up as they were in South Africa to defend the rights of half-castes. These short-sighted politicians were to be the first victims of their own stupid and disgraceful conduct.
History plays funny tricks.
Now we have a presidential election without the principal candidates - and the credit for this doubtless goes to the Ivorian politicians. The country is braced for challenge after the presidential election. There is little republican spirit in the army, which is riddled with tribalism and corruption, and this could lead to the establishment of an authoritarian military regime. Such a regime would retain its hold by distributing largesse to politicians to keep them quiet, and to the army to secure its position. For the armed forces are as mediocre as the politicians - witness the looting that accompanied the coup last December and the mutinies on 4 and 5 July.