Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) – The situation is deteriorating in Si aggrava la situazione in Côte d'Ivoire, where clashes are ongoing between supporters of Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara throughout districts in the administrative capital, Abidjan, as in other areas of the Country. Apart from the pro Gbagbo and pro Ouattara youth protesters, clashes are involving Ivorian armed forces (FANCI), who have remained loyal to Gbagbo, and the former rebels of the New Forces, who since 2002 control the north-west of Côte d'Ivoire. “The New Forces have advanced towards Abidjan, 15km on from Bouaké, the headquarters of the zone under their control. This was reported by passengers on a bus which was held at a roadblock by soldiers from the New Forces in the area, says a local source from the Church to Fides, who for security reasons cannot be named. In the district of Yopougon in Abidjan, pro Ouattara youth groups set fire to the bus while “the patriots”, young pro Gbagbo soldiers burned some public transport vehicles, means which were controlled by their opponents. In the district of Abobo, north of Abidjan, violent confrontations with the use of heavy weapons, between the security forces and pro Ouattara militants have been running for days. Thousands of inhabitants of Abobo are leaving the district.
In Yamoussoukro, the political capital, there are mainly demonstrations although some sources say that on the night between 24 and 25 February there were exchanges of gunshots. The political crisis erupted after incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to recognise the victory of Alassane Ouattara, in the second round of presidential elections on 28 November. Since then, Gbagbo has not abandoned the presidential palace in Abidjan, while Ouattara is closeted in a hotel in the administrative capital, protected by UN peacekeepers. “Gbagbo has accused the UN forces sent to Côte d'Ivoire to have encouraged the rebel advance. Gbagbo had called for the withdrawal of both the Blue Helmets and French contingent, present in the Country since peace times,” the source told Fides. The humanitarian situation is worrying especially in the area where it is being fought out – in the districts of Abidjan affected by the clashes, and in the west on the border with Liberia and Guinea, where Ivorian refugees have been in the thousands. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/2/2011)
