Ibtisam Posted March 18, 2011 Everywhere is burning these days, Ivory Coast still struggling; Ibrahim Diabate fled from his home in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, he spotted young men with the guns from the force nicknamed the "Invisible commandos" in plastic sandals and Bermuda shorts. He tried to backtrack, but they had already seen him and motioned him to come towards them. "Don't worry," they shouted. "We mean no harm." They searched him for weapons and then let him go. Mr Diabate is one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have fled the districts of Abobo, Anyama, and now Plateau-Dokui, as soldiers who back disputed President Laurent Gbagbo have increasingly lost control to this shadowy force. The "invisible commandos" say they are a self-defence group that formed to protect supporters of Mr Gbagbo's rival, Alassane Ouattara, from repeated raids by the pro-Gbagbo security forces. In a new report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses the pro-Gbagbo forces of a "three-month campaign of violence", which "gives every indication of amounting to crimes against humanity". It details the use of executions, rape and beatings against West African migrants and Ivorians thought to support Mr Ouattara. HRW also describes violent attacks by pro-Ouattara forces in Abobo, including the burning alive of people accused of siding with Mr Gbagbo. Many fear that the country is sliding inexorably back towards the all-out conflict which the elections were supposed to end, once and for all. Coming to a head? On 28 November 2010, millions of Ivorians voted in an election which most hoped would mark the end of the most difficult decade in a country which once enjoyed the highest living standards in West Africa. Continue reading the main story * 400 killed since disputed election * 450,000 forced from their homes * 9,000 UN peacekeepers to monitor 2003 ceasefire * Election intended to reunite country * World's largest cocoa producer * Previously seen as haven of peace and prosperity in West Africa * Alassane Ouattara recognised as president-elect * International sanctions imposed to force Laurent Gbagbo to go The presence of 9,000 UN peacekeepers, 3,000 international election observers and an independent electoral commission left little doubt about the outcome of the vote - Mr Ouattara was the winner. But Mr Gbagbo and his allies disputed the result, saying pro-Ouattara rebels had rigged the vote in the northern areas they control. Since then, Mr Ouattara, the internationally-recognised president-elect, has been mainly under blockade in a hotel in Abidjan, while his rival clings on to power. International condemnation was followed by a range of sanctions designed to force out Mr Gbagbo. The West African central bank handed over control of the state accounts to Mr Ouattara and closed down their offices in Abidjan, prompting a liquidity crisis which has left private banks closed for the last three weeks. The European Union introduced sanctions against 91 leading Gbagbo supporters, as well as the country's two main ports. A call by Mr Ouattara's government for a boycott on exports of the country's main cash crop, cocoa, has been widely followed, in what is the world's biggest producer. This has all left Mr Gbagbo struggling to pay salaries and pensions, while Abidjan - Africa's sixth largest city, once known as the Paris of Africa - increasingly resembles a war zone divided between rival forces. With the sanctions starting to bite and tension rising on the street, things could be coming to a head in the coming weeks. 'Honourable exit' Civil servants - most importantly the security forces - are due to be paid before the end of the month. People fleeing their homes in Abidjan (13/03/11) Some 370,000 people have their Abidjan homes in recent weeks The Gbagbo regime had technical and financial trouble paying February's salaries and pensions, with many getting reduced amounts, if at all. And the African Union, which has reiterated its backing of Mr Ouattara, says all sides need to meet by 24 March to set out how the handover of power will be implemented. Accepting AU recommendations for him to lead a government of national unity, Mr Ouattara addressed the nation on Wednesday night on his newly-established television station, TVCI. He pledged to "form a government of national union and reconciliation… including the Ivorian Popular Front [Laurent Gbagbo's party] and the civil society, for the recovery of our country". He said he was offering Mr Gbagbo a "last chance for a peaceful and honourable exit". Mr Gbagbo is scheduled to make a declaration on state television on Thursday evening, though on Monday the state television channel was removed from the Canal Plus satellite network, blocking access to the channel in thousands of homes. UN peacekeepers in Ivory Coast UN peacekeepers are patrolling the front lines In the meantime, rumours circulate of army defections, prompted by the lack of any direct communication from the head of the army and other leading generals for a number of days. Whatever the truth and the degree of army loyalty to Mr Gbagbo, the state security forces have struggled to contain the armed fighters who control Abobo. The Abobo forces claim to have risen up spontaneously to defend the population, but there is evidence of ties with the former New Forces (NF) rebels. Since 2002, the NF have controlled the northern 60% of the country and have recently gained control of several towns in the far west on the border with Liberia. But the NF, led by Mr Ouattara's Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, has generally yet to move south over the 2003 ceasefire line. The pro-Ouattara camp still hope defections and continued international pressure will swing the presidency their way without the need for all-out war. BBC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOB Posted March 19, 2011 *Ibtisam;703007 wrote: Everywhere is burning these days, Ibti, I am afraid we’re witnessing what our beloved prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) said would happen as a sign of khiyama. He said these strange happenings would be the sign of the last days and I think most things he predicted are already happening around the world right in front of our eyes. • The disappearance of knowledge and the appearance of ignorance (Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, & Ahmad) • Books/writing will be widespread and (religious) knowledge will be low (Ahmad) • Adultery and fornication will be widespread (The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that this has never happened without new diseases befalling the people, which their ancestors had not known.) (Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, & Al-Haythami) • When fornication becomes widespread among your leaders (The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that this will happen when the people stop forbidding evil) (Ibn Majah) • Adultery and fornication will be performed in the open. • The consumption of intoxicants will be widespread (Bukhari & Muslim) • Women will outnumber men......eventually 50:1 (Bukhari, Muslim, & Ahmad) • Killing, killing, killing everywhere (Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, & Ahmad) • The nations of the earth will gather against the Muslims like hungry people going to sit down to a table full of food. This will occur when the Muslims are large in number, but "like the foam of the sea". • People will beat others with whips like the tails of oxen (Muslim) ?The Slave Trade • The children will be filled with rage (at-Tabarani, al-Hakim) • Women will conspire (at-Tabarani, al-Hakim) • Rain will be acidic or burning (at-Tabarani, al-Hakim) • Children of fornication will become widespread or prevalent (at-Tabarani, al-Hakim) • When a trust becomes a means of making a profit (at-Tirmidhi, Al-Haythami) • Gains will be shared out only among the rich, with no benefit to the poor (at-Tirmidhi) • Paying zakat becomes a burden and miserliness becomes widespread; charity is given reluctantly (at-Tirmidhi & Al-Haythami) • Miserliness will be thrown into the hearts of people (Bukhari) • Episodes of sudden death will become widespread (Ahmad) • There will be people who will be brethren in public but enemies in secret (He was asked how that would come about and replied, "Because they will have ulterior motives in their mutual dealings and at the same time will fear one another.") (at-Tirmidhi) • When a man obeys his wife and disobeys his mother and treats his friend kindly while shunning his father (at-Tirmidhi) • When voices are raised in the mosques (at-Tirmidhi) • People will walk in the marketplace with their thighs exposed. • Great distances will be traversed in short spans of time. • The people of Iraq will receive no food and no money due to oppression by the Romans (Europeans) (Muslim) • People will hop between the clouds and the earth. • A tribulation will enter everyone’s home (Ahmad) • The leader of a people will be the worst of them (at-Tirmidhi) • Leaders of people will be oppressors (Al-Haythami) • People will treat a man with respect out of fear for some evil he might do (at-Tirmidhi) • Men will begin to wear silk (at-Tirmidhi) • Female singers and musical instruments will become popular (at-Tirmidhi) • When singers become common (Al-Haythami) • When the last ones of the Ummah begin to curse the first ones (at-Tirmidhi) • People will claim to follow the Qur'an but will reject hadith & sunnah (Abu Dawood) • People will believe in the stars (Al-Haythami) • People will reject al-Qadr (the Divine Decree of Destiny) (Al-Haythami) • Time will pass rapidly (Bukhari, Muslim, & Ahmad) • Good deeds will decrease (Bukhari) • Smog will appear over cities because of the evil that they are doing • People will be carrying on with their trade, but there will only be a few trustworthy persons. • Wealth will increase so much so that if a man were given 10,000, he would not be content with it (Ahmad & Bukhari) • A man will pass by a grave and wish that he was in their place (Bukhari) • Earthquakes will increase (Bukhari & Muslim) • There will be attempts to make the deserts green. • The appearance of false messengers (30 dajjals) (Bukhari) • Women will be naked in spite of being dressed, these women will be led astray & will lead others astray (Muslim) • The conquest of Constantinople by the Muslims (Ahmad) • The conquest of India by the Muslims, just prior to the return of Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon both of them)(Ahmad, an-Nisa'i, at-Tabarani, al-Hakim) • When people begin to compete with others in the construction of taller buildings (Bukhari) • There will be a special greeting for the people of distinction (Ahmad) • The Euphrates will disclose a treasure (The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that whoever is present should not take anything from it) (Bukhari & Muslim) • Two large groups, adhering to the same religious teaching will fight each other with large numbers of casualties (Bukhari & Muslim) • Wild animals will be able to talk to humans (Ahmad) • A man will leave his home and his thigh or hip will tell him what is happening back at his home (Ahmad) • Years of deceit in which the truthful person will not be believed and the liar will be believed (Ahmad) • Bearing false witness will become widespread (Al-Haythami & Ahmad) • When men lie with men and women lie with women (Al-Haythami) • Trade will become so widespread that a woman will be forced to help her husband in business (Ahmad) • A woman will enter the workforce out of love for this world (Ahmad) • Arrogance will increase in the earth (at-Tabarani, al-Hakim) • Family ties will be cut (Ahmad) • There will be many women of child-bearing age who will no longer give birth. • There will be an abundance of food, much of which has no blessing in it. • People will refuse when offered food. • Men will begin to look like women and women will begin to look like men. We're witnessing pretty much everything on the list today and it will help one understand why there are so many bloodsheds and natural disasters around the world today and where it will eventually lead us to...May Allah s.w guide us all through the righteous path and may he pardon our sins and those of our loved ones and all the muslims both major and minor Insha Allah. Allow inoo naxariiso Insha Allah. Peace, Love & Unity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOB Posted March 19, 2011 ^^^or you can watch this video if you don't feel like reading the long list. Peace, Love & Unity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Libaax-Sankataabte Posted March 20, 2011 Ibtisam, Laurent Gbagbo is another megalomaniac who believes the presidency is his birthright just like Gaddafi. As these despots are being phased out by the people one by one, I fully expect the loudest ones to create unprecedented mayhem temporarily. The time has come. It is time for Africa to wake up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted March 20, 2011 Dear Bob, many of the things you have listed have been happening for ages? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
