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RSSCôte d’Ivoire Needs Help, Hope, and Healing
January 20th, 2011
Once known as the Pearl of Africa, Côte d’Ivoire boasted beautiful beaches, animated markets, and a peaceful political scene attractive to many for vacations as well as a place to call home. After the death of Houphouet Boigny, the first president, the country began a journey down the slippery slope of power grabbing and profit mongering. This political excursion exploded into a series of attempted coup d’etats and power plays that led to civil war in 2002. The country divided in two. Those who knew Côte d’Ivoire in her glory days are practically overtaken with grief when they see the unsettledness, fear, and confusion dominating the emotions of the population at this time.
The civil war ripped the country along geographic, economic, and ethnic lines and left in its wake frustrated, worried, and scarred people. To reconcile the warring factions, attempts to hold elections were made, but each was hindered by political maneuvers that entrenched the lines of demarcation.
In November 2010, elections were finally held. Many believed the elections would be democratic and clean. An independent committee was set up to monitor the elections. After the votes were counted, this committee declared the opposition candidate, M. Alasane Ouattara, as the winner. The international community quickly recognized M. Ouattara as the president-elect.
However, the sitting president, M. Laurent Gbagbo, contested the elections and the government’s constitutional committee stepped in and declared several hundred thousand votes fraudulent. This move turned the tide in favor of M. Gbagbo and he was declared president.
Since December 2010, two men claim the presidency. Clashes between the supporters of different political factions as well as forceful interventions by the government-controlled military occur frequently. Rather frightening statistics revealed by the United Nations peacekeeping group state:
- 247 people have been killed in post-election violence
- 500+ people have been arrested for various and sundry reasons
- 100+ people have been abducted by military type groups and not heard from since
- 25,000+ Ivorians have fled the country and are now finding safety in UN-sponsored refugee camps
People in need of help, hope, and healing abound in this violence-ridden country. A Save-A-Life VI team waits for a resolution to the political discord so they can meet the needs of people in the Agnibilekrou area.