Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides Service) -“This was a key meeting for ending the crisis in Ivory Coast ” a local Church observer in Abidjan told Fides with regard to talks yesterday 26 November in Ouagadougou between President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso and Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo. “Although the contents of the meeting between the two heads of state were not made public it is clear that three hours of conversation gave the idea that relations between the countries have improved” the local source told Fides. There had been rising tension between Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast in recent months particularly since Abidjan accused Ouagadougou of supporting the rebel groups occupying the north of Ivory Coast along the Burkina Faso border. “A more relaxed climate has been restored between the countries thanks to efforts by members of the West African Economic Community ECOWAS/CEDEAO working to reach a solution to the Ivorian crisis” the source told Fides.
“Proof of the effectiveness of international mediation will be seen today when the national unity government meets. We shall see if ministers representing the rebels grouped under the New Forces banner turn up for the meeting. The group refused to attend meetings to protest against President Gbagbo’s affirmed violation of the peace agreement” sources told Fides. “ECOWAS/CEDEAO heads of state and government have said that one of the conditions for overcoming the impasse in Ivory Coast is for the designated New Forces ministers to participate in government meetings. This point of view was confirmed also by the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, on a recent visit to Ivory Coast.
The national unity government, led by prime minister Seydou Diarra, is the result of peace agreements signed in France early this year which put and end to fighting between regular army and rebel groups since September 2002. Despite the cease fire agreement the situation is still in a dangerous state of impasse and violence threatens any moment. Two days ago UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, warned of the danger of a possible return to armed conflict.
“Besides verbal conflict between the army and the rebels which causes tension to rise, it is clear that the situation has become unbearable for the people living in rebel controlled areas where the collapsed economy has been replaced by an informal, not to say criminal, economy” Fides sources said. “In this situation the country hopes there will be a turning point either with the resuming of negotiations or, God forbid, a return to war.”.
(L.M.) (Fides Service 27/11/2003, lines 38 words 478)
