Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - “Fighting between the armed forces of Ouattara and those of Gbagbo have gone on all night and are continuing today,” say Fides sources from the local Church in Cocody, in Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, where the halls of power are concentrated, particularly the Presidential Palace and radio-TV network headquarters. “We can hear intense shooting and canons going off. The Republican Forces, loyal to Ouattara, declared that they have taken over the TV headquarters, which until now transmitted victory speeches by Gbagbo's men.”
The Republican Forces have been on the offensive for days, to take the Country back from the Security Forces who remained faithful to President Laurent Gbagbo, who is not recognised by the international community as the legitimate head of Côte d'Ivoire.
After having conquered the political capital Yamoussoukro and San Pedro, the strategic port for exporting cacao, (see Fides 31/3/2011), the Republican Forces launched their final offensive against the Presidential Palace, where Gbagbo may be. He has not complied with the ultimatum of Ouattara's Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, to resign by 7.00 pm (local time) yesterday. “We do not know how Ouattara's troops have behaved with the civilians in places they conquered. But we have been informed that at the Catholic mission of Soubré (south-west, in the same area of San Pedro) vehicles were seized by the Republican Forces,” say sources of Fides. “In Abidjan, where Gbagbo has several supporters, retribution and violence among civilians is feared,” say our sources. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/4/2011)
