Abidjan Report- March 2011

Now for the news about Abidjan. Like the preceding months since the election, March has been one of continual decline. Ivoirians have had to struggle to lead normal lives. Many businesses and schools have closed and people are hesitant to stray far from their homes. Our ward's Relief Society President reports that there are many members (of the LDS Church) who are homeless because they had to flee the violence in their neighborhoods. These people are currently being housed in ward buildings or in the homes of friends or family members. They are more fortunate than some. There are many displaced Ivoirians who have no where to go.

The Jeune Patriots or Young Patriots (a group of hoodlums who back Gbagbo) have been causing trouble since the beginning of the stand-off: setting up roadblocks and inciting violence against civilians and UN troops. This month they began looting the homes of Ouattara's ministers (who are holed up in the Golf Hotel). For some reason, Gbagbo recently started to get some sympathy from South Africa. Then, on March 3rd, Ivoirian troops opened fire on a group of peaceful female demonstrators. Six women were killed. South Africa has since revised its position.

Charles Ble Goude (leader of the Young Patriots) at a rally.

Jay was fortunate to get out of Abidjan when he did. The day before his departure, there were several skirmishes in and around the city and some people were killed. Then, there was a week or so of sporadic fighting before the opposition made its big push.

Forces backing Ouattara (the democratically elected leader) began moving south from Bouake and quickly overran the rest of the country. The Ivoirian army put up almost no resistance and as many as 50,000 soldiers, police, and gendarmes abandoned Gbagbo. As of April 1st, the troops were preparing to enter Abidjan.

We are relieved! It appears that Gbagbo will soon be ousted. We hope that Ouattara will live up to his campaign promises and make changes which will help Cote d’Ivoire. Just be forewarned that the Gbagbo propaganda machine is still churning out lies, so don’t believe everything you hear or read...unless it is verified by a U.N. official. We don’t know exactly what this new development means for our family and our future plans. There is a small chance that we will remain in Abidjan, but a lot would have to change in the next 2 ½ months. We’ll see.