Most Cote d'Ivoire Nationals Hope for Restoration of Peace
2011-04-20 21:38:10 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhangxu
Cote d'Ivoire is going through a new era after the April 11 arrest of the country's immediate former president Laurent Gbagbo by pro-Ouattara forces who were supported by the UN peace keepers and the French Licorne forces.
After officially taking over, the country's president-elect who was recognized by the international community Alassane Ouattara outlined his government's priories and the challenges to be overcome. Ouattara pointed out that immediate priorities include, among others, reconstruction of the country, promotion of national reconciliation and socio-economic development.
However, with the wounds, scars and the bruised social ties due to the conflict, there's no doubt that the biggest wish for Cote d'Ivoire nationals today is the restoration of peace. The crisis which begun a day after the announcement of the results of the presidential elections, lasted for over four months and caused a lot of pain and deaths. The post-election crisis worsened during the offensive launched on March 28 by the Cote d'Ivoire Republican Forces (FRCI, pro- Ouattara) in the western parts of the country and later in the major towns.
The offensive of these forces in Abidjan was more bloody because of the resistance put up by Gbagbo's special forces.
THE PEOPLE PAID A HEAVY PRICE
Although the fighting was between the soldiers of the different camps, it's the civilians who paid the heaviest price.
The conflict left many casualties in the western parts of the country as well as in Abidjan.
With the arrest of Gbagbo, the FRCI whose objective was to dislodge him from power and install Ouattara had achieved their mandate. But this did not immediately bring to an end the suffering of the people. This is because of the persistent cases of looting, aggression, human rights violations and sporadic fighting that are being reported within Yopougon district (pro-Gbagbo). Therefore tranquility in Abidjan is still troubled and the town is still experiencing high levels of insecurity. The new authorities have promised to take appropriate measures to restore security across the country's economic capital. The security threat has been positioned as the major challenge that must be overcome by Ouattara. During a consultative meeting on Friday, Ouattara's Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko appealed to the country's police officers to resume their duties so that they can be involved in the process of securing the country.
REPEATED CALLS FOR PEACE
The hope for restoration of peace in Cote d'Ivoire also lies with Gbagbo's camp. Some leaders of this camp have continued to appeal to their supporters to be peaceful.
"We must stop the escalation of violence and decay. We must pull ourselves together, overcome our emotions, pacify our hearts, wipe away our tears and unite to end the suffering of our people and give a chance to the reconstruction of our country," the chairman of the Cote d'Ivoire Popular Front (FPI, Gbagbo's political party) said on Sunday during a press conference. Besides the political parties, the civil society groups have also mobilized themselves to express their desire for peace after several months of deadly clashes.
Demonstrations for peace have been organized not only in Abidjan but also in France where a sizable number of Cote d'Ivoire nationals live. "Cote d'Ivoire is a country of brotherhood. We should reconcile, give peace a chance and start living like we used to do in the past," said Fabrice Meho, a Cote d'Ivoire national living in Paris.
Naturally, peace can only be brought about by concrete actions on the ground with a view of reducing the pain of the people by giving them minimum social comfort.
Ouattara's government has said that it will distribute agricultural machines, seeds and fertilizers in order to revive farming.
It should be noted that agriculture is one of the pillars of Cote d'Ivoire's economy since for a long time, the country has been the biggest cocoa producer in the world. The government has also ordered for free treatment in public hospitals of all those who were injured during the post-election violence. Cote d'Ivoire's development partners have come to her aid in various ways like the World Food Program (WFP) which has sent 9, 000 tons of rice to the internally displaced persons and those who took refuge in the neighboring countries especially Liberia.
After officially taking over, the country's president-elect who was recognized by the international community Alassane Ouattara outlined his government's priories and the challenges to be overcome. Ouattara pointed out that immediate priorities include, among others, reconstruction of the country, promotion of national reconciliation and socio-economic development.
However, with the wounds, scars and the bruised social ties due to the conflict, there's no doubt that the biggest wish for Cote d'Ivoire nationals today is the restoration of peace. The crisis which begun a day after the announcement of the results of the presidential elections, lasted for over four months and caused a lot of pain and deaths. The post-election crisis worsened during the offensive launched on March 28 by the Cote d'Ivoire Republican Forces (FRCI, pro- Ouattara) in the western parts of the country and later in the major towns.
The offensive of these forces in Abidjan was more bloody because of the resistance put up by Gbagbo's special forces.
THE PEOPLE PAID A HEAVY PRICE
Although the fighting was between the soldiers of the different camps, it's the civilians who paid the heaviest price.
The conflict left many casualties in the western parts of the country as well as in Abidjan.
With the arrest of Gbagbo, the FRCI whose objective was to dislodge him from power and install Ouattara had achieved their mandate. But this did not immediately bring to an end the suffering of the people. This is because of the persistent cases of looting, aggression, human rights violations and sporadic fighting that are being reported within Yopougon district (pro-Gbagbo). Therefore tranquility in Abidjan is still troubled and the town is still experiencing high levels of insecurity. The new authorities have promised to take appropriate measures to restore security across the country's economic capital. The security threat has been positioned as the major challenge that must be overcome by Ouattara. During a consultative meeting on Friday, Ouattara's Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko appealed to the country's police officers to resume their duties so that they can be involved in the process of securing the country.
REPEATED CALLS FOR PEACE
The hope for restoration of peace in Cote d'Ivoire also lies with Gbagbo's camp. Some leaders of this camp have continued to appeal to their supporters to be peaceful.
"We must stop the escalation of violence and decay. We must pull ourselves together, overcome our emotions, pacify our hearts, wipe away our tears and unite to end the suffering of our people and give a chance to the reconstruction of our country," the chairman of the Cote d'Ivoire Popular Front (FPI, Gbagbo's political party) said on Sunday during a press conference. Besides the political parties, the civil society groups have also mobilized themselves to express their desire for peace after several months of deadly clashes.
Demonstrations for peace have been organized not only in Abidjan but also in France where a sizable number of Cote d'Ivoire nationals live. "Cote d'Ivoire is a country of brotherhood. We should reconcile, give peace a chance and start living like we used to do in the past," said Fabrice Meho, a Cote d'Ivoire national living in Paris.
Naturally, peace can only be brought about by concrete actions on the ground with a view of reducing the pain of the people by giving them minimum social comfort.
Ouattara's government has said that it will distribute agricultural machines, seeds and fertilizers in order to revive farming.
It should be noted that agriculture is one of the pillars of Cote d'Ivoire's economy since for a long time, the country has been the biggest cocoa producer in the world. The government has also ordered for free treatment in public hospitals of all those who were injured during the post-election violence. Cote d'Ivoire's development partners have come to her aid in various ways like the World Food Program (WFP) which has sent 9, 000 tons of rice to the internally displaced persons and those who took refuge in the neighboring countries especially Liberia.
