Abidjan (Fides Service) - "This is a very delicate moment for Ivory Coast" a local source tells Fides Service. "Tension is high, protests against the new government of national unity are fed by media and jurists who say that the way in which the new government was reached is anti-constitutional. A distinction must be made between the agreement reached in Paris between President Gbagbo and the rebels and the ensuing constitution of the government of national unity. The agreement says that the idea of "pure" Ivorian race must be put aside. In Ivory Coast many people are immigrants and a few million Ivorian citizens suffer discrimination because they were originally from other countries.
Some hold that because the agreement will have to be approved by parliament and with a referendum it is in keeping with the constitution. The government of national unity was formed with little transparency. The Paris agreement foresees that governors should come from wide sectors of the political and social life in Ivory Coast. Protests focus on this point and the fact that two Ministries Interior and Defence will be headed by members of the rebel movement which controls northern Ivory Coast. MPCI
President Gbagbo is now in a very difficult situation after he undersigning the formation of a government contested by his own supporters. For the moment the President has listened to all the components of Ivorian society and the country is waiting for his "address to the nation".
For a more complete picture of the events in Ivory Coast we give a list of Fides News items on the Ivory Coast crisis since September 2002.

Africa/Ivory Coast - Who was behind the attempted coup 24/9/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Eye witness in Bouake centre of coup disorder 25/9/02
Africa/ Ivory Coast - Only international mediation will avoid a blood bath 27/09/02
Africa/Ivory Coast -Foreign civilians leave, missionaries stay to witness for peace 28/09/02
Africa./Ivory Coast - Missionaries on front line to help displaced persons 30/9/02
Vatican/Ivory Coast - Missionary world rallies to Pope's call to pray for peace 30/09/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - All African Bishops voice concern for civil war threat 3/10/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Missionaries bear witness amidst fighting 4/10/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Cease fire imminent, missionaries in front line to help refugees 4/10/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Pope's call for peace welcomed with joy- ethnic clash threatens 9/10/02
Vatican - Pope calls on "Africans to work together side by side " 11/10/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Salesians appeal for rice thousands of displaced persons 12/10/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Rebels advance and take Daloa 14/10/02
Africa/Ivory -Local sources optimistic for peace agreement by tomorrow 22/10/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Despite sporadic shooting cease-fire holds 26/10/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Rebels want President to go - elections: Government refuses 5/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Not only war: Sisters plan bigger hospital and training school 6/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - The courage of peace: family of murdered rebel speaks 13/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Caritas continues to assist stricken people 13/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Church says this is not a war of religions 14/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Religions together for peace 14/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Commitment by local Church for war-victims' needs still great 18/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - "Cease-fire is not moving towards peace" 21/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - The situation is tense-Catholics pray for peace 27/11/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Situation ever more critical, new war front breaks out 2/12/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - What it is all about? Who is fighting who and why? 5/12/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Spiral of war ever more violent and confused 6/12/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - government recruits more troops for 2nd rebel front 10/12/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - "Please pray for peace" say missionaries 21/12/02
Africa/Ivory Coast - Rebels continue to harass civilians including missionaries 8/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Religious leaders peace message, all believers pray and fast 8/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Thousands attend inter-religious peace meeting, President too 11/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - At last rebels sign treaty. Peace talks open tomorrow in Paris 14/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Capuchins in rebel territory are not hostages 22/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Has the country reached a dead end? 23/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Missionaries back in northern rebel areas, fighting continues 23/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - President Gbagbo remains in power until elections 25/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Missionaries bear witness to God's love for all people 25/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Peace agreement in Paris: President Gbagbo supporters protest 27/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - "This is road for peace" says S. Egidio Community 28/1/03
Africa/Ivory Coast - Tension high: French citizens ready for evacuation 30/1/03
(Fides Service 31/1/2003)