Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides Service)- “The African Union Summit in Addis Ababa is the last hope for restoring peace in Ivory Coast” local Catholic sources in Abidjan told Fides. The serious crisis in Ivory Coast which started in September 2002 is one of the questions for discussion on the agenda of the African Summit which opens today July 6 in the Ethiopian capital. Since an unsuccessful coup in 2002 Ivory Coast has been cut in two, the north west in the hands of rebel groups under the banner of New Forces and the rest of the country under control of the regular army.
“The problem to solve is the application of the peace agreement signed in France ” the sources told Fides. The agreement, signed in 2003 stopped the fighting between rebels and army and led to the formation of a national unity interim government with the job of preparing elections in 2005. “The dispute is about the powers of the prime minister Seydou Diarra. The peace agreement signed by all parties envisaged peace sharing between President Laurent Gbagbo and the premier” local sources told Fides. “But the President continues to apply the Constitution which grants only limited powers to the Premier”. This attitude caused an institutional conflict which led to the suspension of opposition ministers from the national unity government. Some of those ministers were later sacked by President Gbagbo.
“Despite of talks between the President and representatives of the Opposition last week in Gabon, with the mediation of Gabon’s President Omar Bongo, the problem has still to be solved” our sources recall. “We hope that the African Union meeting will come up with something decisive to put an end to this dangerous impasse. In fact country risks remaining divided. In rebel controlled areas state administration is non existent. Schools are the only things which function. But teachers have to travel to government administered areas to withdraw their wages because banks in rebel areas are all closed ” the sources told Fides.
In the meantime tension has risen between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, which borders on the rebel controlled area and has been accused in the past by Abidjan of supporting the rebels. Yesterday 5 July Ouagadougou authorities threatened to shoot down unidentified aircraft coming from the direction of Ivory Coast flew over Burkina Faso more than once without authorisation.
“This is a concerning development because these declarations were made on the eve of the African Union summit. Whenever a tiny crack opens for peace, something or someone sows confusion and hatred. Who wants Ivory Coast to remain divided?” Fides sources wonder. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/7/2004 righe 38 parole 484)
