Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides Service)- “The situation is improving every day. Basic services are beginning to work again and state administration has resumed” Capuchin Fathers in the diocese of Man told Fides.
“Our mission is in an area near borders with Liberian and Guinea 150 km west of Man city. During the war in 2002 the mission was damaged and we had to move away to Abidjan, but we returned here in March this year” said the religious who run a centre for treating patients with Buruli ulcers (see Fides 10 June 2003). “Part of the area is under government troops and the other part is controlled by guerrilla forces but it is relatively easy to move from one part to the other” the Father say. “But for a complete return to normality, we will have to wait for the start of the disarmament programme”.
In mid May the government and rebels agreed that the disarmament programme would begin before the end of June. “The programme has been announced and postponed so often, let’s hope this time it will get going” the sources told Fides.
Disarmament is of decisive importance also because in another area of west Côte d'Ivoire around Duékoué serious ethnic tensions have been noted and some observers fear these may explode to cause a broader conflict (see Fides 5 May 2005). The area is part of the “trust-land” controlled by the UN peace keeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire ONUCI and situated between government controlled area and the rebel controlled area. Along the buffer zone over the past few months there has been a proliferation of ethnic militia groups. Local and international observers query the UN peace keepers’ ability to do their job in this area. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/5/2005 righe 28 parole 336)
