Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides Service)- At least 25 people were killed and many more injured during clashes between the police and demonstrators yesterday 25 March in Abidjan, economic capital of Ivory Coast where a planned Opposition demonstration did not take place. “People were confined to their districts and the police prevented anyone from approaching the city centre” local Church sources in Abidjan told Fides. “The demonstration was stopped before it began because people were prevented from assembling. To keep people at home President Gbagbo announced a bank holiday with schools and offices and shops closed”.
Violence broke out when demonstrators tried to force police blocks. The police also used tear gas and war planes flew threateningly over the city. National television showed pictures of the bodies of two policemen dismembered by machete blows. “The President and the Opposition are blaming each other reciprocally for the tragic events. The President’s Party accused the Opposition of attempted armed insurrection. The Opposition said their supporters were not armed and that the loss of lives is to be blamed on the police ” the sources told Fides.
The demonstration was organised by 7 opposition parties who walked out of the interim government accusing the President of failing to respect points of the peace agreement reached in France in January 2003, to put an end to civil war which started in 2002. The country is divided in two with the north and west controlled by the New Forces, comprising three groups of rebels which started the civil war.
“Abidjan appears to be calm. The streets are still heavily preside by the army. Schools are still closed and not many people went to work this morning” the sources told Fides. The Opposition parties have said they will organise another demonstration.
Bouake the main city in the north in the hands of the New Forces is also calm. “The rebels do not allow any voices of dissent. Yesterday there were demonstrations of support for the Opposition” a local source told Fides. “They are not interested in dialogue. The rebels’ television was the only one to report 50 people killed yesterday and this only increased hatred and resentment. Perhaps the intention is to pressure the international community to intervene and make the President resign, as it happened in Liberia, with Taylor, and in Haiti with Artistide”.
“What is sad is that even if the demonstration had taken place without incidents, the country is in any case divided. Instead of thinking of the common good, they are only thinking of personal and party interests” the sources told Fides. “Not one political leader has spoken in favour of the good of the nation. Apart from the loss of lives, this is the saddest fact of these recent events”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2004, righe 44 parole 571)
