Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) – Even the Archbishop of Bouaké, His Exc. Mgr. Paul-Simon Ahouanan Djro, is among 11 members of the " Commission Dialogue, Vérité et Réconciliation" (CDVR) established on September 28 by the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. The Commission is inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established after the end of apartheid in South Africa.
"Mgr. Ahouanan Djro is one of three Vice-Presidents of the Commission. The other two are a religious Muslim and a representative of the tribal leaders" say local Church sources from Abidjan to Fides.
Division and violence in Côte d'Ivoire have just come to an end after 10 years, a turbulent period that started in September 2002 and concluded in April this year with the victory of Ouattara’s forces, supported by the French military and by the UN, against those of former President Laurent Gbagbo, who is now under arrest.
Fides sources thus describe the situation in Côte d'Ivoire following the dramatic events of the conquest of Abidjan on behalf of Ouattara’s men: "There is relative peace, because there are still cases of violence in several cities across the country. They are still very isolated cases, however, that do not spare the Catholic Church, too. Two days ago, for example, a group of bandits attacked the residence of the Bishop of San Pedro. Two weeks ago, the Capuchin Fathers’ house had been attacked".
"These actions - continue our sources - are committed by former soldiers and guerrillas who are unemployed after the end of the civil war, and have kept their weapons. During the final phase of the battle to have control over Abidjan more than 5,000 inmates were released from the main prison in the city. The former prisoners were armed to take part in the fighting". "However, you can move around the country without any problem, and in different areas works of reconstruction have started", concludes the sources of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/09/2011)
