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All Africa Conference of Churches

www.aacc-ceta.org

Tel: 254 - 20 - 4441483, 4441338/9   Fax: 254 - 20- 4443241, 4445835
 Email: secretariat@aacc-ceta.org
General Secretariat: Waiyaki Way, P.O. Box 14205 , 00800 Westlands,
Nairobi, Kenya

Communiqué From the All Africa Conference of Churches
Concerning the Situation in Côte d'Ivoire

As the voice of the ecumenical movement in Africa, The All Africa
Conference of Churches is greatly concerned by reports of an acceleration
of violence in Côte d'Ivoire and finds it necessary to respond.  We would
like to offer signs of solidarity to the Churches in Côte d'Ivoire and
prayers for peace to all of the citizens of this beleaguered nation.  We
would also like to make the following points concerning the conflict and
its resolution:

1.	We are well aware that the roots of the conflict are very complex and
that all parties involved have serious, legitimate concerns about how best
Côte d'Ivoire should be governed. However, we reject violence as a means to
bring about political change. Violence rarely begets positive change;
instead, it only begets more violence.

2.	We are grateful for the African Union and AU mediator, South African
President Thabo Mbeki, and their commitment to accompany Côte d'Ivoire
during this time of conflict. We are also thankful for the commitment shown
by ECOWAS and the UN in their support for initiatives that will facilitate
the brokering of peace in Côte d'Ivoire.  Only through the commitment of
continental and global peacemaking bodies can the hopes we have for peace
in Côte d'Ivoire and other nations come to fruition.

3.	We support the ECOWAS resolution which was affirmed by the African
Union
and United Nations, which will allow President Laurent Gbagbo to remain in
office after the completion of his term, on October 30, but also requires
President Gbagbo to organize a presidential election within 12 months, and
appoint a new Prime Minister who will have enough power to organize and
conduct the electoral process. We call on all parties in Côte d'Ivoire to
commit to peace, respect the ECOWAS resolution, and implement what is
required of them by the resolution, including disarmament and fair
electoral process.

4.	We call on all parties involved, whether the government, opposition
or
individual, to put the interests of the people of Côte d'Ivoire before
partisan or selfish political agendas or interests, so that Côte d'Ivoire
can reclaim its role of economic pace setter in  Francophone West Africa.

5.	We urge the Churches of Côte d'Ivoire to continue accompanying the peace
process, ministering to political leaders, and working with the Muslim
community to promote peace in the entire nation.

Above all, the work of the AACC is to minister to our member churches and
to all of the people of Africa. In living up to that mission, we re-affirm
our commitment to accompany the Churches of Côte d'Ivoire through this
trying period in the history of their country.	It is our most fervent
prayer that through the cooperation of the Church and all of those who hope
for a better future we can find an equitable, peaceful solution that will
bring peace to Côte d'Ivoire.