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Cote d'Ivoire's National Reconciliation Forum began its first working day on Wednesday with presentations from some of the
country's religious organisations and political parties. The two-month-long
forum, which opened on Tuesday in the economic capital, Abidjan, aims to
find solutions to the country's current socio-political crisis.
During Wednesday's session, the Higher Council of Imams, through its head Cisse Mamadou, accused political leaders of manipulating religion and politics to further personal ambition and to prevent the spread of Islam in the country. The Council called on the government to ensure the implementation and respect of the rule of law and strengthen the secular nature of the state by giving the same rights and privileges to all religions. It also recommended that the
authorities punish those responsible for election-related violence last
year, in which some 300 persons died, and that victims receive compensation.
The Mouvement des forces d'avenir (MFA- Movement of Forces of the Future),
an opposition party, told delegates that it would consider the Forum a
failure if it failed to find solutions to two keys issues: the case of
opposition leader Alassane Dramane Ouattara (popularly known as ADO) and
land conflict. Another opposition party, the Front d'Action pour le
Renouveau (FAR - Action Front for Renewal) supported the MFA's position on Ouattara. "ADO must be rehabilitated," FAR spokesman Tano Desire said.
Ouattara, who served as prime minister in 1990-1993, was barred from
presidential and legislative elections on the grounds that he is not of
Ivorian descent, which he denies. His party, the Rassemblement des
Republicains (RDR - Rally of Republicans) says that the authorities are denying his civil and
political rights. Ouattara has said that he will not attend the forum unless these rights are re-established.
One of the country's main political parties, the Ivorian Workers Party
(PIT-French acronym), said it was impossible to deny the existence of a
social fracture and added that its origins are deep-rooted. It proposed a
long list of recommendations, including electoral campaign financing, a review of immigration law, respect for the secular nature of the country and a revision of the Constitution.
Other political parties, NGOs, trade associations, right groups,
representatives of immigrant communities and individuals are also expected to address the forum, which ends on 10 December.
Press reports said that Ouattara, ex-president Konan Bedie and former
military ruler General Robert Guei would soon be in Abidjan for the debates. Boa Amoikon Tiemele, a senior official of the former ruling Parti
Democratique de Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI-Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire), told IRIN on Wednesday that their absence was "temporary".
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
