Share & more
President Laurent Gbagbo on Monday inaugurated a committee to bring about national reconciliation in Cote d’Ivoire. The Comite de mediation pour la reconciliation nationale was created following bloody post-election violence in late October. Its 29 members include religious leaders, traditional chiefs, civil society representatives and academics.
Gbagbo welcomed initiatives undertaken internationally to foster reconciliation in Cote d’Ivoire, but stressed the need for Ivorians to work towards peace. “Everyone can help us but the duty to achieve reconciliation is a national duty. The success of reconciliation can be guaranteed only from within,” he said.
More than 170 people died in three days of violence that started on 24 October when former military ruler General Robert Guei claimed victory in a presidential election. Popular protests toppled Guei and Gbagbo was proclaimed winner of the 22 October election. However, the poll was contested by the Rassemblement des Republicains (RDR) whose supporters demonstrated in the streets on 25-26 October.
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