Bishops of Ivory Coast
(Photo courtesy of Ivorian Conference of Catholic Bishops) Bishops in the Ivory Coast have warned of a new civil war in the run-up to 2020 elections, unless urgent action is taken to ease communal tensions and withdraw weapons in West African state.
“A general climate of fear now reigns throughout our population, linked to recurrent intercommunal conflicts, issues of insecurity, illicit forest occupation and gold panning and Ivorian identity problems,” said the 19-member bishops’ conference.
“Wishing to exorcise the old demons of hatred and division, we express spiritual proximity and compassion to families who have lost their loved ones and possessions. To all actors of social and political life at any level, we make this heartfelt appeal: Let us avoid another war!”
The message was issued last month after the conference’s plenary in Agboville, after a wave of violent intercommunal conflicts.
“In the name of peace, we specially urge the government to pursue and implement a disarmament process, since it is no secret that weapons are still circulating,” the bishops added.
“In every intercommunal conflict, long knives and weapons of war are regularly and professionally used, which naturally traumatises our population.”
“Certainly, building peace is not an easy task. Nevertheless, we demand with insistence from those who hold our people’s destiny in their hands: avoid another war.”
Catholics make up 20% of the 20 million inhabitants of Ivory Coast; Muslims make up about 35%.