AFRICA/IVORY COAST - “ALTHOUGH CEASE FIRE HOLDS BOTH ARMY AND REBELS PREPARE FOR WAR. REBELS, DIVIDED AMONG THEMSELVES, COULD EVEN EXPLODE IN ARMED CONFLICT” MISSIONARY TELLS FIDES SERVICE

Abidjan (Fides Service) – “If I did not live in Ivory Coast I would say that it is the most beautiful country in the world, at least according to the official statements of the government” a missionary in Bouake northern Ivory Coast tells Fides Service. “Not a day passes without a statement from the government with regards , but the situation remains the same, people are tired of broken promises. Despite the formation of a government of national unity comprising representatives of the rebels and President Laurent Gbagbo, Ivory Coast is still finding it difficult to exit from the civil war which broke out in September 2002.
On July 30 the army and the rebels exchanged lists of prisoners of war but a date for the release of these men has not been set. On the political level an agreement has still to be reached over the appointment of Ministers of Internal Affairs and Defence, major posts which neither the President nor the rebels want to cede to the other side. “They take one step forward and two steps back” the missionary says. “While politicians talk people struggle to live. Here in the north the road blocks dividing rebel and government territory are still in place. Politics and high sounding words are not enough. One fact is certain, everyone here in Ivory Coast accuses France of encouraging the rebels in order to make Gbagbo fall. While the President is damaging France’s economic interests opening the Ivorian economy to other countries.” LM (Fides Service 1/8/2003 EM lines 34 Words: 450)