The Ivorian government is holding a workshop from March 16 to 18, 2022 in Grand Bassam on strategic reflection on inter-communal dialogue.
A real tool for strengthening peace, this workshop is organized by the Ministry of Reconciliation and National Cohesion around the theme: “Inter-community dialogue, a tool for strengthening reconciliation, national cohesion and peace.”
With the support of the Swiss Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), the strategic reflection workshop slated to take place in Grand-Bassam, from March 16 to 18, 2022, aims to give concrete expression to the government’s policy on peace building.
The Minister of Reconciliation and National Cohesion, Kouadio Konan Bertin ‘KKB’, has initiated this action to address the most important issues related to national reconciliation and social cohesion in Cote d’Ivoire.
As a prelude to this workshop, Mr. KKB received on Monday at his office in Abidjan, a delegation from the Swiss Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) led by its Director for Francophone Africa, Mr. Alexandre Liebesking.
The main challenges related to dialogue between communities in Cote d’Ivoire were identified.
The workshop will determine key and priority actions for “the success of inter-community dialogue in the framework of the reconciliation process and national cohesion.”
According to a document on these strategic reflections, it will specifically identify the challenges related to inter-community dialogue in Cote d’Ivoire, the main challenges related to peace, reconciliation and national cohesion.
Cote d’Ivoire plans to build a “new Ivorian” to bring the country out of the years of conflict, which were marked by a breakdown in political balance, the disintegration of the social fabric and the destruction of economic infrastructure.
In addition, the loss of human life has deeply shaken national unity and undermined social cohesion.
As a result, communal isolationism has developed, fueling tensions within and between communities.
The liabilities of the violence that shook the country constitute a painful and traumatic experience, from which the future of a country that was a symbol of tolerance must be built, the document says.
The challenge will be to ward off the specter of the resurgence of conflict, which requires sustained efforts to return society to a normal, peaceful social and political life, based on universal values of respect and protection of human rights.
Aware that without a peaceful society, united in its diversity and its community of destiny, the objectives of joint development cannot be achieved, President Alassane Ouattara announced on December 14, 2020 the creation of a ministry dedicated to national reconciliation.
This, he said, to further consolidate peace, giving this ministerial department the mission to make an assessment of actions taken, with the objectives of strengthening social cohesion and reconciliation of the daughters and sons of Cote d’Ivoire.
To win this bet, the Ministry of Reconciliation and National Cohesion believes that it is essential to objectively manage the feelings in the present in order to offer, for the future, reasons to enjoy life together again.
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