Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides Service)- “Seen from here the situation in Côte d'Ivoire is much calmer than the local and international media report” said a missionary in Abidjan, economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire, where yesterday 30 October, Opposition groups staged a demonstration to demand the resignation of President Laurent Gbagbo whose mandate should have expired today.
“The demonstration was held in Abidjan and it was peaceful but towards the end there was violence and some demonstrators engaged in clashes with the police forces which opened fire to dispel the crowds. However no one was killed, only a few were slightly bruised and the people went home” the missionary said. “Care must be taken not to exaggerate. This is a delicate moment, there is tension in the air but it does not prevent people from moving about and we missionaries continue to be at the side of the local people”.
President Gbagbo whose mandate was recently extended for 12 months by a UN Security Council resolution, has promised that elections will be held “long before” the UN deadline. The President attributed the extension of his mandate to the political stall caused, he said, by the rebels. President Gbagbo also said that a new prime minister will be nominated “in a few days time” .
Presidential elections had been scheduled for the end of October but the parties failed to reach an agreement with regard disarmament of factions, preliminary condition for the election.
In reply to the President’s declaration the New Forces rebel group which controls the north west of the country since September 2002 issued a statement announcing that the prime minister of the future government of national reconciliation will be New Forces secretary general Guillaume Soro.
Various anti president demonstrations have been held in rebel controlled areas. During the demonstration in the rebel ‘capital’ Bouaké, rebels leaders met UN representatives in Côte d'Ivoire and presented a statement calling for “Gbagbo to simply resign”. In the statement the rebels also said they reject UN resolution 1633, dated 21 October, extending President Gbagbo’s mandate “for no more than 12 months” giving him the powers necessary to organise presidential elections.
“The situation is one of impasse and there seems to be no way out. In my opinion the United Nations should pressure the Ivorian parties to reach an agreement” concluded the missionary. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 31/10/2005 righe 41 parole 462)
