Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - "We will see between today and tomorrow what will be the result of yesterday`s clashes, if the combatants of IB (Ibrahim Coulibaly), will lay down their weapons, now that their leader has been killed, or give into hiding. It is too early to assess the situation”, says Jean Djoman, Director of Development and Promotion of Human Caritas Abidjan, the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire to Fides, after the death of Ibrahim Coulibaly (known as IB), the head of the so-called "invisible command”, who acted in Abobo, one of the districts of Abidjan (see Fides 12/4/2011). According to the official version , Coulibaly, was killed during an operation of the Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI, loyal to President Alassane Ouattara) designed to disarm his men. The Invisible command" participated in the fighting against the forces of the overthrown President Laurent Gbagbo, but had not joined the FRCI, led by Prime Minister Ouattare, Guillaume Soro. There had been quarrels in the past between the latter and Coulibaly .
The clashes in Adobo occurred after those which erupted in Yopougon, April 25, between the Republican forces and the militia which remained loyal to the overthrown President Gbagbo. "The situation here seems to be returning back to normal. The groups pro Gbagbo have begun to lay down their arms because there was a negotiation that had a positive outcome”, says Djoman.
The head of Caritas said that "the population of Abidjan is still cautious, people return home, but there is still a significant number of displaced persons, who are in some centers and in different host families. Before returning to their homes, people look closely at the situation in their neighborhood”. "Based on the information we have gathered in Abidjan alone, there are about 25 thousand displaced people, most of which are hosted by families of friends and relatives”, adds Djoman.
Some of the displaced persons from Abidjan were directed to other areas of the country. With the gradual improvement of security conditions these people are returning to their homes. Korhogo had received 15 thousand displaced people, the central area around Yamoussoukro 16 thousand people, while in the east and on the border with Ghana a total of about 3 thousand displaced people had found shelter. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 04/28/2011)
