Funding Cut Off to Ivory Coast’s Disputed President

The Central Bank of West African States has cut off funding to Laurent Gbagbo, who is one of two men claiming to be president of the Ivory Coast.

The international community is continuing attempts to isolate Gbagbo, who has been president since 2000 but is widely believed to have rigged a recent election against Alassane Ouattara. The Central Bank of West African States, which holds the country’s treasury funds, has now said it will not recognize Gbagbo’s signing authority on government cheques, making it difficult, if not impossible, for his government to pay civil servants. On Thursday Ivorian state television went dark, prompting speculation that Ouattra’s supporters had succeeded in attempts to disrupt Gbagbo’s control of the news. The channel had been airing continuous footage of Gbagbo taking the oath of office. Ten thousand UN peacekeepers remain in the country, which fought a bloody civil war in 2002.