Ivory Coast Bishops urge Government to free political prisoners
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The Bishops of Ivory Coast have called for the release of political prisoners still being held following the violent post-election conflict of 2010-2011 that claimed the lives of over 3000 persons within a space of five months. The release of political prisoners is seen as an important step in uniting and achieving genuine reconciliation in a country that is still very politically and ethnically polarised.Tens of thousands of Catholics in Ivory Coast gathered Sunday at the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro for the national pilgrimage celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis on 8 December. The Bishops want the nation to start a new chapter founded on reconciliation.Some of the pilgrims to Yamoussoukro started arriving at the Basilica, a day earlier. They came from literally all parts of the country. Together they sang songs, celebrated the Eucharist, listened to spiritual talks and prayed as one.The Bishop of Katiola, Ignace Bessi Dogbo, speaking ...
The Bishops of Ivory Coast have called for the release of political prisoners still being held following the violent post-election conflict of 2010-2011 that claimed the lives of over 3000 persons within a space of five months. The release of political prisoners is seen as an important step in uniting and achieving genuine reconciliation in a country that is still very politically and ethnically polarised.
Tens of thousands of Catholics in Ivory Coast gathered Sunday at the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro for the national pilgrimage celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis on 8 December. The Bishops want the nation to start a new chapter founded on reconciliation.
Some of the pilgrims to Yamoussoukro started arriving at the Basilica, a day earlier. They came from literally all parts of the country. Together they sang songs, celebrated the Eucharist, listened to spiritual talks and prayed as one.
The Bishop of Katiola, Ignace Bessi Dogbo, speaking on behalf of other Bishops, urged the Government to release political prisoners still in the country’s jails as a way of furthering national reconciliation and celebrating in a concrete manner the spirit of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast's post election conflict saw President Alassane Ouattara unseat then president, Laurent Gbagbo. Commentators have long held that both supporters of Quattara and Gbagbo committed atrocities but the majority of those in prison are Gbagbo supporters. Gbagbo himself is being held in the Hague over his role in the 2011 violenct conflict.
"Reconciliation naturally demands the release of political prisoners mainly because no one (political party) can claim to have acted in complete innocence during the conflict. For the nation to be reconciled, everyone must feel free to come and go without fear of being molested," said Bishop Bessi Dogbo.
Fr. Donald Ouali, a priest of the Archdiocese of Bouaké in Ivory Coast, spoke of the beauty of the pilgrimage which unites everyone regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation.
"There is no ethnicity (here), no political group. What unites us is our faith," he explained. Christians who are here have demonstrated their unity. It is now up to politicians from across the political divide to do the same by reaching out to their opponents starting with the release of political prisoners,” Fr. Ouali reiterated the Bishop’s message.
For many Ivorians such as Bénédicte Kra, who made the trip for the first time from Agboville in the south of the country, the pilgrimage offers an opportunity to discover the magnificent Basilica of Yamoussoukro. She described the pilgrimage as a moment of "communion and sharing" but also as a discovery of "wonder" for the towering Basilica dedicated to of Our Lady of Peace.
"I have lived in Ivory Coast but I did not know the Basilica was this awesome. I am glad I took the time to be part of the pilgrimage," said Bénédicte.
Ivory Coast has 23 million people, including 5.4 million foreigners. The country is said to have 40% Muslims and 40% Christians. 20% profess traditional religions or no religion at all.
(source AFP; Translation: Vatican Radio's English Africa Service)
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