AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Celebration of National Day of Peace

Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - "We know that we have managed to avoid the worst, but the management of the current period is essential" said Madeleine Yao, President of PLCRD, the platform of religious leaders for peace, reconciliation, social cohesion and development.
"God has blessed the Ivory Coast, to place it in a certain context, it is important that each of us is a peacemaker so that we can consolidate our results and proceed towards development" she continues, speaking during the Day of Prayer for Peace organized by PLCRD, on Sunday 15 November, the 24th National Day of Peace, in the church of Papa Nouveau in Koumassi.
The Ivory Coast is currently going through a difficult moment because of the post-electoral violence after President Alassane Ouattara obtained a third term with the vote on 31 October (see Fides, 3/11/2020).
The moment of spiritual renewal in the church of Papa Nouveau in Koumassi to implore God's blessing on the Ivory Coast and its inhabitants was marked by exhortations for peace, led by religious leaders of different Christian and Muslim faiths.
"Prayer allows us to avoid indecency and guilt", said Imam Kader Dembélé of the Grand Mosque of Jacqueville Adah (Ivory Coast department, Lagunes district).
"Prayer is the intimate moment when the faithful turn to God to present their problems and only God can answer them", concluded the Imam inviting the faithful to rely on God by praying for peace in the Ivory Coast.
For his part, the national president of the board of directors of the Messianic Church of the Ivory Coast, Lath Mel Joseph, said that "peace is God" and that therefore "politicians must convert their differences into compromises", hoping that the Ivorians recognize each other as brothers and sisters of the same God.
Speaking in turn, Koffi Bi Marcelin, head of the Papa Nouveau church in Koumassi, expressed his joy at hosting this event on the day dedicated to peace. "Without peace nothing can succeed. This is why I would like to encourage this initiative of the PLCRD".
Established by decree on 7 March 1996, the Ivory Coast celebrates the National Day of Peace on 15 November. For this 24th edition, focused on the theme "Together, let’s consolidate peace, preserve our goals", it was the municipality of Koumassi to host the official ceremony. (S.S.) (Agenzia Fides, 17/11/2020)

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