DJCI† President calls on Ivorians to press for real peace actions

Since last March the Ivorian public and the international community is being shown an elaborate propaganda campaign to make believe that the 5 year old Ivory Coast conflict is being resolved. To promote this illusion, many spectacular and costly symbolic events have taken place in recent months. However little concrete progress to solve the country’s problems is visible.

It is true that the Head of State has been able to co-opt the leader of the rebellion to become Prime Minister. Likewise, some key rebellion personalities have joined the government. No direct clashes between the two armed sides have taken place. Government personnel, including the Head of State, are able to go to the formerly rebel-controlled North. Under outside pressure a deadline for elections has seemingly also been agreed upon. “Does all of this mean that a real peace is on the way?” “Are the foundations for clean, transparent elections, really being laid?” asked DJCI President, Modeste Seri.

Many observers inside and outside Ivory Coast are not convinced that this is so. Given his past record, the statements of the Head of State have little credibility. The Prime Minister seems to have abandoned the original demands of the rebellion, that is, fair and equal treatment of the northern populations with due recognition of their equal citizen rights. This has also deeply tarnished his credibility. To many, the current situation seems to merely point to an arrangement between elites in exchange for personal rewards, rather than reaching a true understanding to respect the interest of the people they claim to represent.

While this pseudo peace farce goes on, the country continues to slide to disaster under catastrophically poor governance. Corruption is rampant, disrespect for the rule of law is blatant, the economy contracts, delivery of public services including education and health is virtually at a standstill, security is fragile at all levels, civic morality is at an all time low. Hopelessness reigns among the increasingly desperate population, while the politicians of the FPI, RHDP, and the rebellion indulge with frenzy in the plunder of state resources.

Mr. Seri asks “how long can the current orgies last before our beloved country, once a showcase for West Africa, completely collapses? How long should we, the component members of Civil Society, passively stand by watching this tragedy before taking action? Faced with the war lords that torment us, are there no honest and committed Ivorians able to undertake the urgently needed reforms which we have been awaiting for so long? ”

No, it is not possible for the Ivorian people to continue accepting the current excesses. They cannot passively stand on the side while irresponsible elites destroy the future of their nation. They cannot let current injustices continue. They cannot expect that others, especially outsiders, will solve their problems. Enough is enough! The Ivorian people, especially its youth, must take responsibility for their future by taking an active role to resolve the current situation and bring an end to the present circus. The time for decisive engagement to press for real peace actions has come. It is now! I therefore invite the young people of Ivory Coast to join our nation-wide campaigns to bring about a more just order”, concluded Mr. Seri.                                                

Abidjan, 18 December 2007

For comment:  Modeste Seri +22508586948. Email movdjci@aol.com