AFRICA: IVORY COAST: INTERFAITH PRAYER AT THE BASILICA FOR PEACE

Agenzia Fides REPORT - "There is a strong popular mobilization and every effort has been made so that there is a festive atmosphere, also thanks to the organization of events throughout the city, " says Fr. Augustin Obrou, of the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Abidjan to Fides, which is located in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of Côte d'Ivoire, for the swearing-in ceremony of President Alassane Ouattara. In addition to several foreign leaders, even the Episcopal Conference of Côte d'Ivoire will be present at the ceremony.
Fr. Obrou explains that he is in Yamoussoukro also to participate in an interfaith prayer to be held tonight at 7pm at the Basilica of Yamoussoukro. All religions, Christians and Muslims, join to ask for peace in the country.
Ouattara takes office 6 months after the presidential elections on 28 November 2010, lost by the outgoing Head of State, Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to leave the country, provoking a political crisis which led to military clashes between the two factions, and caused 3,000 deaths and at least one million displaced. After the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo, on 11 April, Ouattara was officially proclaimed President of the country on May 5.

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