Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides Service)- “Clashes in the past few days have been serious but also west Côte d'Ivoire will soon return to normality” said Capuchin Fathers in Man, the main town in western part of the country where clashes continue between resident Guere people and Dioula emigrants from the north of Côte d'Ivoire who are mostly Muslims. At least 15 people have been killed in clashes involving a number of villages around Duekoue. The Red Cross said between 6,000 and 10,000 people have fled the area.
“The fight is over arable land” the missionaries told Fides “and land disputes between these two peoples in this area are nothing new. When civil war started in 2002 the situation became more acute due to the presence of many small arms. If previously they fought with spears and sticks now they shoot with automatic weapons”.
There are numerous groups of militia in the area which render it the most unstable and dangerous in the country. In the acute stage of the civil war the Capuchin fathers had to close their missions in the area, but they returned some time ago. “Our mission in Man is served by three Fathers who are repairing structures damaged by sacking, including the mission school. “At Man we also had a hospital for patients with Buruli ulcers endemic in this area. But the centre was raised to the ground. Now we have to transport patients to Abidjan where we rebuilt our clinic. After they recover we bring them back home. We hope to build a clinic here when the situation improves. But we have decided that the more serious patients will still be moved to Abidjan where we can give them better assistance”.
Man is in no-man’s- land which separates the army and the militia. The zone is controlled by the United Nations peacekeeping mission ONUCI. “There area has difficulty in returning to normality but there are some hopeful signs. Electricity supplies has resumed and we have to pay water rates, but the postal service is still not working ” the Capuchins told Fides. “The militia in the area must be disarmed. ONUCI has withdrawn heavy weapons and now they must do same with small weapons” the missionaries conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 4/5/2005 righe 36 parole 437)
