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TYRE, Lebanon: Hundreds of Lebanese are fleeing Ivory Coast amid fears of violence and confusion over mixed diplomatic signals from Lebanon in the presidential standoff following an election in the troubled west African country.
"I left Lebanon 30 years ago because of the civil war, and here I am again running away from civil war," said Youssef Safieddine, who hails from the southern coastal city of Tyre.
Fifty-eight-year-old Safieddine runs a construction company in Abidjan. He is among a growing number of Lebanese, mainly entrepreneurs, who are leaving their homes and businesses over fears of civil strife.
Many say they were threatened after Lebanon's ambassador attended the swearing-in of Laurent Gbagbo, the controversial strongman who has refused to step down despite rival Alassane Ouattara being internationally recognised as having won the election.
Ali Ajami was the only foreign envoy to show up, aside from Angola's ambassador.
A government official in Beirut told AFP that Foreign Minister Ali Shami, acting of his own accord without cabinet approval, had instructed Ajami to attend.
"Shami's behaviour has jeopardised the security of the Lebanese community in Ivory Coast," the official said, requesting anonymity. "What he did was a mistake."
Lebanon's government is paralysed over a UN probe into the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri and has not yet adopted an official position on last month's election.
And Ajami's attendance at the swearing-in contradicts Beirut's position at the UN Security Council. On December 8, the council voted overwhelmingly to endorse Ouattara as the victor in a move that non-permanent member Lebanon supported.
On Wednesday, Ajami filed a cable to Shami complaining that he and the Lebanese community had received threats after he attended Gbagbo's swearing-in.
"I have begun to receive news that some Lebanese in northern Ivory Coast (an area controlled by Ouattara supporters) have been receiving threats," read the cable, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
Ajami added that he supported the decision to attend the swearing-in on grounds that the majority of the Lebanese in Ivory Coast live in areas under Gbagbo's control.
"But I would have hoped for a clarification from the foreign ministry to undo the harm that I have been subjected to," the cable states.
Ivory Coast hosts the largest Lebanese community in Africa, estimated at some 80,000 who mainly work in trade. The majority are Shiite Muslims who hail from the country's south.
"The Lebanese are familiar with civil war," said Abbas Dakhlallah, who returned from Abidjan to his hometown of Qana in southern Lebanon one month ago.
"We experienced it first-hand ... and it is fear of civil war that has pushed hundreds of families to leave the Ivory Coast", said the 54-year-old building contractor.
Lebanon's privately owned carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) has said it was ready to schedule additional flights from Ivory Coast if necessary.
Meanwhile, many Lebanese, mainly women and children, are opting to flee by land to neighbouring states like Liberia, Ghana or Burkina Faso from which it is easier to book flights.
"My husband sent me and our three children back to Lebanon after we started to see gunmen in the streets," said Iman, who returned to Tyre three days ago.
"We call him every day to check on him, but we are still terrified that something will happen to him," said Iman, not wishing to reveal her family name.
Mohammad Freim, a 32-year-old businessman who arrived from Ivory Coast on Thursday, said uncertainty and fears of violence were building up in the country as the standoff between Gbagbo and Ouattara continues.
"We are closely watching developments but we Lebanese are used to unrest and, for that reason, I will return to Abidjan next week whatever happens," he said.
-AFP/wk
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