CHRISTIANS ATTACKED IN REBEL HELD AREAS

C ”TE D’IVOIRE

22 October 2002

Christians have been a particular target of soldiers and their supporters in rebel-held areas during the month-long rebellion in C ´te d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

Reports from Boukare, the second city of C ´te d’Ivoire in the centre of the country that has been captured by the rebels, indicate that Christians and other non-Muslim groups have been singled out for attack. Hundreds have been killed and thousands forced to flee. Christian districts of the city have been attacked and devastated, with homes looted and burnt, while Muslim areas remain untouched. The violence and killings increased after an unsuccessful attempt by government forces to recapture Boukare on 7 October. One Ivorian Christian writing on 12 October said, “All Moslems attack and kill the other populations, generally Christian, under supervision of the rebels.” This violence is seen by some Christians as a deliberate attempt to turn the rebellion into an ethnic and religious war.

The rebellion started on 19 September with a mutiny of soldiers who were due to be demobilised. This mutiny was quickly suppressed in the south but developed into an armed rebellion against the government in the north of C ´te d’ Ivoire. The south of the country is largely Christian while the north is mainly Muslim. Until recently, C ´te d’Ivoire has been a stable and relatively prosperous country. However, religious and ethnic tensions have been increased by the very large number of immigrants from neighbouring countries. The largest proportion of these come from Burkina Faso, a Muslim country to the north of C ´te d’Ivoire. These immigrants are perceived to support the rebels and there have been some attacks on immigrants in the south despite government appeals to remain calm and not to target immigrants. After a month of fighting a ceasefire has now been agreed between the government and rebel forces. French troops are monitoring this ceasefire which leaves the rebels in control of much of the north of the country.

Much of the media coverage of the rebellion in C ´te d’Ivoire has focused on the political, ethnic and tribal dimensions of the conflict. However, there is a distinctly religious dimension as well. Initially, it was thought that the former military ruler, General Guei, was behind the uprising, but he was killed by soldiers loyal to the government during the early stages of the conflict. It is now thought that the rebels oppose the government of President Laurent Gbago and favour opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, a Muslim from the north of the country. The rebels are supported by members of the Dioula tribe, who are Muslims from the north, and by immigrants such as those from Burkina Faso. There are also allegations that the government of Burkina Faso is supporting the rebels. Those from the Bete tribe are mainly Christian and support the government. These have been the main victims of the violence in the rebel-held areas. Attempts are now being made to resolve the situation but fears have been expressed that this will involve bringing Alassane Ouattara’s opposition party into government or may even involve the de-facto partition of the country into a Muslim-dominated north and a Christian south.

PRAY

Pray for the families of those killed in Boukare and other parts of C ´te d’Ivoire. Pray that God will comfort them at this time of loss. Pray too that those who were injured will soon recover and those forced to flee will be able to return to their homes.

Pray that Christians in rebel-held areas will be protected from further attacks and violence.

Pray for a peaceful and just resolution to the rebellion in C ´te d’Ivoire.

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