Ivory Coast: Archbishop of Abidjan calls for dialogue before elections
Cardinal Jean Pierre Kutwa, Archbishop of Abidjan during a meeting with President Alassane Ouattara.
July 14, 2017 in Abidjan.
ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In Côte d'Ivoire, as tensions rise as the elections of October 31 approach, Cardinal Jean Pierre Kutwa, Archbishop of Abidjan takes the floor.
In a long statement on Monday, August 31, the prelate called for respect for the Constitution, appeasement and dialogue as a prerequisite for the elections, and spoke out against the candidacy of Alassane Ouattara.
Publicity
Read more
From our correspondent in Abidjan,
Pierre Pinto
"
I cannot keep silent any longer, I solemnly appeal to the individual and collective conscience so that an end is put to the violence and that room is made for dialogue
", declares Cardinal Kutwa who decided to speak after the deadly events of recent weeks.
"
I would like to invite everyone to engage in dialogue and consultation in the search for solutions to this crisis which does not augur a better tomorrow as regards the peaceful organization of the elections.
"
The candidacy of Alassane Ouattara "
not necessary
"
The prelate deplores that antagonistic readings of the Constitution are made by the different political camps and calls for a scientific and definitive exegesis of the fundamental law.
"
What would be the use of a compass that one day indicates North, and another day South."
The fundamental law, which can be regarded as a compass, cannot mean, at the same time, a thing and its opposite.
"
Finally, Cardinal Kutwa addresses Alassane Ouattara.
“
I cannot but turn with respect to the President of the Republic, Head of State whose candidacy for these next elections is not necessary in my humble opinion.
His sovereign duty as guarantor of the Constitution and national unity calls for his courageous involvement, in order to restore calm in the country, to bring together Ivorians, to take the time to organize the elections in an environment pacified by reconciliation. .
"
"
Dura lex sed lex, the law is hard but it is the law
", still professed the cardinal estimating that the respect for the law, more than the elections, is one of the roads towards reconciliation.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Ivory Coast