Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - “We do not want a country ruled by disorder and strife. We call on Ivorians to vote without ceding to pressure” urged Catholic Archbishop Marie-Daniel Dadiet, of Korhogo in Cote d’Ivoire, where on 25 October the country will elect a President. The candidates are 8 and the favourite would appear to be outgoing president Ouattara.
The country is still marked by a long crisis which began 2002 and ended in 2011 after contested presidential elections in 2010, and a battle between the then outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo and the now President Alassane Ouattara. The former refused to acknowledge the electoral victory of the latter and only the intervention of UN troops and French military which deposed and arrested Gbagbo, was Ouattara able to start governing.
Aware of this precedent, Archbishop Dadiet urged Ivorians to accept the verdict of the polls: “Young people must not be pushed onto the streets and armed to destroy Cote d’Ivoire. Ivorians are tired of consecutive crisis” which have devastated the country. For his part Archbishop Paul-Simon Ahouanan Djro, of Bouaké, who presides the National Commission for Reconciliation and Compensation for Victims (CONARIV), stressed the need to avoid another post-electoral crisis like the one in 2010. In a message to the people Archbishop Ahouana wrote “it is important to do everything to preserve peace and have peaceful elections” and he urged everyone to look back at the country’s recent history to see and avoid the mistakes made.
Archbishop Marcellin Yao Kouadio of Yamoussokro, during a special Mass celebrated on Sunday 11 October to mark the start of the new school year, asked young people not to let themselves be manipulated by unscrupulous politicians. “Do not let yourselves be used for dirty deeds, destruction, sacking, torching of goods, clashes between militants of different political parties ” said the Archbishop pointing out that “very often unscrupulous adults incite you to violence while making sure their own children are kept safe”.
Leaders of other Christian denominations and also Muslim leaders have appealed for calm to ensure a peaceful and fair election. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2015)
