AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Common prayer for peaceful presidential elections

Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - A few days before the presidential elections on October 31, the socio-political climate remains tense in the Ivory Coast. For this reason, members of the PLCRD, platform of religious leaders for peace, reconciliation, cohesion and development organized an ecumenical prayer on Friday October 9, on the theme "Together, let's build our Country in peace", at the Al Imane mosque in Koumassi Remblais (Abidjan-East).
"We see ourselves as a structure, an instrument of cohesion, peace and the search for social balance; so a few days before the elections, our duty is to put in place an action plan which raises awareness, which informs and forms consciences first of all in conflict management, and invites everyone to act so that the elections are peaceful", explained Madeleine Yao, president of the PLCRD.
According to Ms. Yao, "the electoral period must not be a period of war". "We must protect our Country from all other conflicts that can create new pain and remove Ivory Coast from the international community".
The president of the platform added that "we no longer want a social and human setback on the occasion of the elections and for this reason we organize similar prayers, which are at the same time occasion for exhortations and requests that we can all become peacemakers". Ms. Yao urged parents to assume their responsibility as "guardians"; Women should talk to their husbands "in order to avoid temptation of any kind", religious and civil leaders should "become instruments not of division but of peace". Finally, addressing the young people, the President of the PLCRD asked them not to give in to the temptation of violence and disorder, but to remember that the future of the Country belongs to them and that they must therefore do everything to prepare for the change of generations in the leadership of the nation.
Imam Diarrassouba Mamadou, the principal imam of the Al Amine Mosque in Koumassi Remblais, said he was delighted with the interfaith prayer in his mosque: "In a period when the Ivory Coast is in turmoil, such actions are necessary to draw the attention of every resident to the common good of Ivory Coast in order to spread love, brotherhood and tolerance and to show mercy", said the imam. (S.S.) (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 12/10/2020)

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