Ivory Coast militia destroys weapons
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{{Côte d'Ivoire}}
{{date|May 26, 2007}}
<!--[[Image:LaurentGbagbo2003.jpg|thumb|300px|Laurent Gbagbo<br /><sup>Photo credit: [[w:Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)|Foreign Affairs, France]] </sup>]]-->

The [[Ivory Coast]]'s pro-Government [[w:Great West Liberation Front|Great West Liberation Front]] (GWLF) militia destroyed their weapons in [[w:Guiglo|Guiglo]] on May 19, as part of an on-going [[w:disarmament|disarmament]] policy trailing the [[w:Ivorian Civil War|Ivorian Civil War]].

President [[Laurent Gbagbo]], who attended Saturday's ceremonial [[w:bonfire|bonfire]] of weapons, thanked the militia members. Denis Maho Glofiei, leader of the militia, stated that "We've realised that since the signing of [the Peace Deal], we have no more reason to exist," while handing Gbagbo two rifles.

The GWLF is one of four pro-government militias operating in the country. Rebel forces have long claimed that they refuse to disarm until the militias are disbanded.

While Abou Moussa, head of the [[w:United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|UN Operations in Côte d'Ivoire]] oversaw the ceremony, the ceasefire was actually brought about by President Gbagbo's autonomous negotiations with rebel leader [[w:Guillaume Soro|Guillaume Soro]] who was named as the country's new Prime Minister in April.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2007-05-22-voa5.cfm
|title=Former Ivorian Combatants Pin Conciliation Hopes On Disarmament and Fair Elections
|author=Howard Lesser
|pub=VOA News
|date=May 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0263E572-26CC-4962-8017-9E5BCC013629.htm
|title=Ivory Coast militia burns weapons
|author=
|pub=Al Jazeera
|date=05/19/2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6673457.stm
|title=Ivorian militias start to disarm
|author=James Copnall
|pub=BBC News
|date=May 19, 2007}}

{{Publish}}
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[[Category:Côte d'Ivoire]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

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The Ivory Coast's pro-Government Great West Liberation Front (GWLF) militia destroyed their weapons in Guiglo on May 19, as part of an on-going disarmament policy trailing the Ivorian Civil War.

President Laurent Gbagbo, who attended Saturday's ceremonial bonfire of weapons, thanked the militia members. Denis Maho Glofiei, leader of the militia, stated that "We've realised that since the signing of the Peace Deal, we have no more reason to exist," while handing Gbagbo two rifles.

The GWLF is one of four pro-government militias operating in the country. Rebel forces have long claimed that they refuse to disarm until the militias are disbanded.

While Abou Moussa, head of the UN Operations in Côte d'Ivoire oversaw the ceremony, the ceasefire was actually brought about by President Gbagbo's autonomous negotiations with rebel leader Guillaume Soro who was named as the country's new Prime Minister in April.
Côte d'Ivoire Africa Politics and conflicts