Bishops in Ivory Coast Highlight Conditions for Achieving Reconciliation, Justice, Peace

The manipulation of justice, they say, is done “either to deny Ivorian nationality, or to sell it off, or to make a political opponent ineligible, or to hand over to international justice certain compatriots while others responsible for crimes enjoy their freedom.”              

In their 83-point Pastoral Letter, the Bishops note that in order to achieve peace, “it is not enough to organize elections for the country to be at peace.” Instead, they argue, “it is necessary to cultivate love and fraternity among ourselves, through words, actions and relationships marked by conviviality.”

“Only an authentic reconciliation accomplished in truth and justice will bring lasting peace to Ivorian society,” the Bishops say in their message, which is divided into three main sections: a Church called to live communion with God, others and creation; a Church-communion at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace; and the commitment of all to build a society of peace.

They continue, “It is therefore all the sons and daughters of Ivory Coast, bishops, priests and all consecrated persons, including consecrated persons, who are called to build and consolidate peace.”

In their considered opinion, "the Church will only be able to contribute credibly to the construction and consolidation of social cohesion in Ivory Coast if pastors and lay faithful are reconciled among themselves.”

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“The loss of credibility and discredit in the mission, requires of us a renewed and resolute attitude to resolve the conflicts within the Church,” the Bishops add.

Tensions in Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer, are rising along political and ethnic fault lines, ahead of the October 31 presidential elections.

While the incumbent President Alassane Quattara’s March decision to withdraw from the race helped avoid a significant dispute over the constitutionality of his running for a third term, the July 8 sudden death of Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly has revived tensions, which are compounded by the opposition leaders’ lamentations of intimidation in a bid to discourage them from vying.

The leadership of the country’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI), has been boycotting participation in the Independent Electoral Commission activities on grounds that the body is dominated by the President’s political allies.

The tensions have heightened as government and opposition politicians debate whether or not the election should be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected at least 14,531 people and killed 93 others while 8,857 patients have recovered.

Amid the rising tensions, CECCI’s Secretary General, Fr. Emmanuel Wohi Nin has said that the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter is an invitation to “look together and objectively at the crisis situation that our country has been experiencing for many years and its consequences that touches everyone in flesh and history.”