Ivorian President Alassane called, on Wednesday in Abidjan, for forgiveness among Ivorians and the consolidation of the climate of peace in the country, on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan.
“To all the inhabitants of Cote d’Ivoire, we wish that this climate of peace be further consolidated, that concord animate us and that forgiveness be the essential thing to allow us to meet as brothers and sisters to think only of our beautiful country…,” Ouattara said.
He was speaking at the Grand Mosque of the Riviera Golf, a posh neighbourhood in the east of Abidjan where he held the Eid-El-Fitr prayer marking the end of the Muslim fast. The Ivorian leader added that “Cote d’Ivoire needs peace and brotherhood to move forward and Ivorians need love between each other.”
Before him, in a sermon, Imam El Hadj Bachir Ouattara, welcomed the calming of the political climate in Cote d’Ivoire.
“We note with satisfaction and hope a real appeasement of the political climate, a factor of consolidation of peace and social cohesion, major elements conducive to a harmonious development for the inhabitants of our dear Cote d’Ivoire,” he said noting with satisfaction the realization of appeasement actions taken by the government in recent weeks.
Among the actions, he cited among others, the facilitation and effective return of exiles from the post-election crisis of 2011.
“We hope that these actions will have a happy outcome for the happiness of Ivorians. I urge all political actors, solemnly, to give priority to the higher interest of the nation and to work for peace and social cohesion,” Imam Ouattara encouraged.
The Ivorian Muslim community is celebrating today Eid marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan after the observation of the lunar crescent on Tuesday evening in several localities of the country including Gonate in the centre-west.
LB/ls/lb/abj/APA