Cote d'Ivoire: A Peace Deal and Gbagbo's Strategy

Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and rebel New Forces leader Guillaume Soro agreed March 4 to a peace deal that aims to create a new Ivorian transitional government and begin crucial voter registration and national identification programs. Notably excluded from the deal, though, are the country's leading political opposition figures. The agreement will permit Gbagbo to shift government spending from fighting the rebellion to public investment — a move meant to boost confidence in his government and strike at his political opposition.