Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - “Today it seems a bit calmer, even if we can hear sporadic gun shots in the distance, and the power functions every other hour. Yesterday, for example, there was no power, but tonight it is back on,” says Sister Rosaria to Fides, of the Sisters of Providence, in the neighbourhood of Anonkoua – Kouté, in Abobo, the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire, where fighting rages between those loyal to the incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, and members of the so-called “invisible commando”, a group that boasts some supporters of President-elect Alassane Ouattara. “The situation remains tense and complicated,” says the sister. “It is very difficult to get to other neighbourhoods. A few days ago, I had to take a longer and more tortuous route than usual to buy some supplies, because we had nothing left in the house, and on my return I was exhausted.”
Sister Rosaria describes the atmosphere of the neighbourhood: “People are terrified, and whoever can, has fled. It is an exodus. Every day we are woken up by the noise of heavy artillery. Wherever possible, we try to help those who knock on our door, and there are many. It is complicated because we are also finding things difficult. I was a missionary in Rwanda in 1994, and on the first morning, when I opened the door of the mission, I saw all these gunmen in the streets, and I relived those moments here. I have been on mission for 35 years, of which I spent 21 in Côte d'Ivoire. Unfortunately, these situations are part of the life of mission,” concludes Sister Rosaria.
From press reports, the fighting has extended beyond the town of Yopougon (see Fides 14/03/2011), to the Adjamé district, where the forces close to Ouattara seems to have been blocked in their advance towards the centre of Abidjan, by Defence and Security Forces who remain loyal to Gbagbo. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/3/2011)
