World Bank Country Director for Cote d'Ivoire Madani M. Tall (center), with Mgr. Jean Pierre Kutwa, archbishop of Abidjan (left), and Cheick Aima Aboubacar Fofana, president of Cote d'Ivoire's Islamic Council (right).
ABIDJAN, April 17, 2009— As part of a series of dialogues on development in Cote d’Ivoire, the World Bank’s office in Abidjan held a meeting March 24 with the country's highest religious leaders to get their perspectives on the current political and religious atmosphere in the country and to discuss what many still see as a national crisis following a 2002 coup attempt.
Mgr. Jean Pierre Kutwa, archbishop of Abidjan, and Cheick Aima Aboubacar Fofana, president of Cote d'Ivoire’s Islamic Council, were the featured speakers.
“If we want sustainable peace, we should tackle thoroughly the issues of identity, immigration, political inclusiveness and access to land that are the root causes of the crisis,” Imam Fofana said.
The Ivoirian crisis started in September 2002 following a coup attempt that turned into a rebellion. The country was cut into two with the government holding the south and central regions and the rebels holding the north and west. Today progress has been made toward peace, thanks to an accord signed in 2007, but confidence-building measures and community outreach are still necessary. Tensions also remain over a presidential election that has been delayed since 2005.
In their presentations both Archbishop Kutwa and Imam Fofana shared lessons learned from their experiences in the field. Both focused on the strategies they developed to ease tensions and provide guidance on the conduct of public affairs during the crisis.
“Ivoirians should free themselves from greed and hunger for power,” said Archbishop Kutwa. “Power is given to serve the people, not to serve ourselves.” He also called on political leaders to take a strong stance in favor of better economic governance.
Both religious leaders preached love, peace, and solidarity. They also emphasized the crucial need to preserve moral and family values. In their concluding remarks both Archbishop Kutwa and Imam Fofana expressed gratitude to the World Bank for giving them the opportunity to share their views and wished that events such as these would be held more often.
In welcoming the two leaders, World Bank Country Director Madani M. Tall said the forum was an opportunity for the Bank to learn from religious communities' first-hand experience on the ground.
“It is true that the government is our main partner, but we also develop good working relationships with community and opinion leaders like you,” he said. “Who, more than you, knows better about the aspirations of the populations?” he added.
Tall highlighted the key role of religious leaders in the evolution of societies, especially in post-conflict states.
The meeting also served as an opportunity for the World Bank to outline its reengagement in Cote d' Ivoire, with the reactivation of previously suspended projects and the development of new ones in emergency infrastructure, education, HIV/AIDS, and rural development.
Reporters from a dozen media outlets were present at the event.
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