Disputed Ivory Coast presidential election causes social unrest
A recent disputed presidential election has caused political and social unrest in the Ivory Coast. On November 28, 2010, Alassane Dramane Ouattara was declared the winner of a runoff presidential vote against incumbent Laurent Gbagbo. Despite being recognized as the winner of the election, Ouattara has been stymied by Gbagbo – who has refused to leave office. According to the United Nations at least 173 civilians in the West African country have died as a result of violence stemming from the disputed election. The UN, which sent its first contingent of peacekeepers to the Ivory Coast in March 2004, currently has 10,000 peacekeepers in the country. UN representatives have said that the disputed election might result in a civil war if order is not restored. On December 2, 2010, the Ivorian election commission declared that Ouattara received 54.1% of the vote and Gbagbo earned 45.9%. The incumbent has been in power since 2000 and has refused to leave office despite pressure from the