Massacre in Ivory Coast; Church facilities destroyed
April 04, 2011
Caritas Internationalis, the consortium of Catholic relief and development agencies, has condemned the massacre of an estimated 1,000 people in Duékoué, a city in western Côte d'Ivoire.
“Caritas does not know who was responsible for the killing, but says a proper investigation must take place to establish the truth," according to a press statement.
“Caritas condemns all attacks on civilians and says the humanitarian situation in Cote D'Ivoire is rapidly deteriorating.”
The local bishop, Bishop Gaspard Béby Gnéba of Man, told the Fides news agency that Church facilities had been looted and destroyed.
Violence has afflicted the nation since President Laurent Gbagbo refused to recognize Alassane Ouattara’s victory in the November presidential election.
17% of the nation’s 20.8 million people are Catholic, according to Vatican statistics.
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Further information:
- Clashes in Abidjan near national radio-television network headquarters; damages to Church buildings in Duékoué (Fides)
- Caritas condemns Cote D'Ivoire massacre (Fides)
- Ivory Coast: Stand-off continues amid violence (BBC)
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