Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yamoussoukro (Agenzia Fides)- “Ivory Coast continues to swing from hope and scepticism, but I am convinced the former is going to win” says a Catholic mission in the northern Ivory Coast city of Bouaké. “Scepticism is due to the fact that while President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume work to bring the country back to normal, the Opposition, represented by political leaders such as Alassane Ouattara, feeling excluded from the process, works at obstructionism” said the missionary who prefers not to be name for security reasons.
“They keep on saying the country is on the brink of collapse, but the people keep on hoping for peace, they are frustrated after living five years in a country cut in two. In the rebel stronghold Bouaké, even the lesser army chiefs are saying the only prospect for the country is peace. This is the path we have taken - they say- and we must succeed. And so I personally am optimistic", the missionary told Fides.
Two days ago President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime minster Ministro Guillaume Soro agreed to hold presidential and legislative elections before June next year. The agreement was signed in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, whose President, Blaise Compaoré, is mediating the complex crisis in Ivory Coast. Yesterday 28 November when President Gbagbo visited Korhogo, another northern rebel controlled city, he was given a warm welcome . “In his address there, shown on national television, the head of state said although to some observers progress made in recent months may appear modest, it has achieved much more than what had been done in these last five years” the missionary told Fides. “I think he is right. The crisis in this country cannot be solved in the wink of an eye, a lot of patience is necessary. And then progress is visible: the army patrols we see on the streets now are formed of regular army soldiers and former New Forces militia and the people in the north are moving back to their homes, abandoned when the rebellion started in 2002” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2007 righe 26 parole 350)
