Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - The Ivory Coast is still suffering the consequences of the political and institutional crisis that lasted more than 10 years, which ended in 2011 with the intervention of the UN and French troops, which resulted in the arrest of former President Laurent Gbagbo and in the assignment of current President Alassane Ouattara. The Country is preparing to also experience the presidential elections to be held in 2015.
These issues were the subject of a conversation that Fides Agency had with His Exc. Mgr. Alexis Touabli Youlo, Bishop of Agboville and President of the Episcopal Conference of Côte d'Ivoire, in Rome for the ad limina visit.
Excellency how did the Church live the severe crisis that shook the Ivory Coast for 10 years?
The Church is at the heart of the City as the Gaudium et Spes reminds us. And by virtue of this embodied presence in our people, the Church in the Ivory Coast played an important role during the crisis that rocked the Country. The Bishops' Conference met the various protagonists of the crisis on several occasions, including several Presidents of the Republic that followed over the last few years.
This work still continues and is carried out by the those that manage the daily political life. For example, with regards to national reconciliation the Church is present in the Commission on Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation, whose Vice President is a Catholic Bishop (His Exc. Mgr. Paul-Simon Ahouanan Djro, Archbishop of Bouaké, see Fides 29/09/2011, ed.). Church representatives are also present at a regional level of this commission. We are also present in the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission).
Therefore both through ordinary and extraordinary work, in terms of national structures, the Church is present in the life of the Ivory Coast and I think people appreciate it.
The humanitarian consequences of the crisis are still felt even in the Country. Just think of the number of displaced persons. What role does the church have to help people in distress?
The Church is probably the institution that has had the most important role in the management of the displaced. When people feel they are in danger they go to Catholic parishes. Not only Catholics go but also Muslims and people of every religious denomination or of those who do not profess any religion.
To accommodate the displaced all the parishes of the diocese have been mobilized, especially those in the west and south. This effort continues today because there are still internally displaced persons who are unable to return to their homes.
How are you preparing yourselves to follow the election of 2015?
The Church exercises a supervisory role, as the prophet who vigils society so that it does not go adrift. This is the reason why we have a representative at CEI that ensures that adequate measures are taken so that the elections are regular and are carried out in a calm and peaceful way. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 18/09/2014)
