We praise God that many have been safely evacuated from Bouaké over the last couple of days, including all of our SIL members and all the school children. Please continue to pray for African friends and employees, who have not been able to leave the rebel controlled area. Please pray for a peaceful end to this crisis and for emotional healing for all who have been involved. We in Abidjan are all very tired, but the Lord is strengthening us. Thank you for continuing to pray.
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The situation in Côte d’Ivoire is still causing great concern. Most embassies advise against travel to Côte d’Ivoire at this time. In Abidjan and most parts in the South, East and West of the country, loyal Government forces seem to have regained control of the situation and life is slowly moving towards normality. Nevertheless, tensions have been greatly raised by destruction of homes and personal property and there is much fear among certain sections of the population. These attacks have not been directed against westerners. In Bouaké and towns in the Central North, rebel forces remain in control. Thus far, loyalist forces sent to dislodge them have not done so. There is much talk of negotiations but it is not clear whether negotiations are actually taking place. There is also talk of evacuating members of the international community, and French troops have been sent in the direction of Bouaké. A French armed forces spokesman says that this is “to assure, if necessary, the security of French nationals and members of the international community”. The branch Crisis Management committee in Abidjan has so far been able to maintain regular telephone contact with SIL members and mission personnel in Bouaké. All report that they feel no immediate threat, though they are hearing the sounds of fighting at a distance from time to time. They are reasonably well stocked up with provisions but feeling the stress of their situation. We continue to pray and are grateful for the knowledge that we serve an almighty and sovereign Lord. At 4:45am today we woke to the sound of automatic weapon fire in the distance. This had apparently started an hour or so earlier. Along with small arms fire, we also heard some heavier weapons and explosions. At first, news sources suggested a revolt was taking place by discontented elements within the Ivorian military. As the day has gone on news reports suggest an attempted coup d’état. We have been able to contact most SIL personnel around the country by telephone advising that they stay at home. All confirm that they are not in imminent danger. We have been monitoring the situation throughout the day via radio and the Internet. It is reported that most of Abidjan is now firmly under the control of loyal government forces, but the airport may still be in the hands of mutineers. We have heard little or no gunfire since midday. The minister of the interior was killed by an attack on his house during the night and the wife of the minister of defence was taken hostage. General Gueï, the former leader of the military who took power in the 1999 coup d’état is also confirmed as having been killed. In the central region of the country, SIL has a workshop centre in Bouaké – Côte d’Ivoire’s second largest city. This is at present our major concern. Press reports indicate that this city is still under rebel control. Our personnel in Bouaké report by telephone that they are secure, but have heard a lot of fighting, particularly around the nearby army base which lies between the workshop centre and a large missionary boarding school (ICA). There are press reports of rebel forces heading south from Bouaké towards Abidjan and of government forces being sent north. For up to date news in English we recommend the BBC World Service website. |
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