2011 progress report to the Global Alliance for
Ministries and Departments of Peace

Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Campaign: Department of Peace/Ministry for Peace – Côte d’Ivoire
GA Contact Person: Oscar SEKA
Contact Email: iearn.ci@safe-mail.net

CAMPAIGN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPARTMENT OF PEACE (DOP) / A MINISTRY FOR PEACE (MFP) IN COTE D’IVOIRE

Contact person: Oscar SEKA
Organization: International Education And Resource Network (iEARN) Côte d’Ivoire

Brief history of our campaign

The international community closed the world’s “decade for a culture of peace and non-violence” a year ago. As a matter of fact the year 2010 was the closing date of the decade bridging the period 2001 to 2010. During this period the nations of the world had to invest in popularizing the culture of peace in order to make the dawn of the new millennium a peaceful one. And to break on the other hand with the tradition of violence and terrorism which took place on the mind and in the deeds of many groups: separatists, independantists, religious fanatics and so on and so forth in the end of late millennium. The peak of theses evil activities was the September 11th attacks in New York in 2001 which resulted in the dreadful destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) twin buildings.

With the growing birth rate and its consequences on the growth of world population and the problems linked to this reality, a struggle against poverty represents the priority of the nations of the world. They clearly stated it in the United Nations Declaration of the Millennium (UNDM) in 2000 which established the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

The fight against poverty: what a mission for developing countries governments! It seems this is an everlasting one! Côte d’Ivoire as most of the poor countries of the world has to deal with this issue. So the adoption of the UNDM and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) appeared as a glean of hope for the countries in the south. Misfortunately the hope turns to nightmare in Côte d’Ivoire. In September 19th 2002 a military coup failed and muted into a rebellion that caused the parting in two halves of the country: the south under governmental power and the north rules by the rebellion. The conflict made many civilians casualties and numerous damages to infrastructures and national unity. Many negotiations from Lomé (Togo) to Pretoria (South Africa) via stages of peace talks in Linas Marcoussis (France) and Accra (Ghana) did not help find an agreement to the crisis. Nevertheless they did assist in reaching a cease fire in March 2003. The involvement of the international community in the talks led to different accords which were contested either by the presidential camp or by the opposition.

After many political arrangements came the Political Accord of Ouagadougou known here as Accord Politique de Ouagadougou (P.A.O or A.P.O). This agreement ratified in the capital of Burkina Faso on March 04 2007 allowed significant steps forward to peace. And it led our organization envision a campaign for the establishment of a national infrastructure for peace. The idea of a DOP or MFP came with the post presidential elections’ crisis in December 2010.

Current status of your campaign

The A.P.O even did make possible the organization of presidential elections in two rounds on October 31st 2010 and November 28th 2010. If the result of the first round of the presidential elections was welcome with enthusiasm by the different candidates and the observers of the pool, it did not go the same way for the second round. The loosing candidate (Laurent GBAGBO) did refuse to concede defeat to the elected one (Alassane OUATTARA). The demonstrations of power which followed made new civilian and military casualties for a total estimated to 3,000 deads at the end of the crisis on April 11th 2011.

With the situation returning to normal initiatives in favor of peace from the civil society must rally those initiated by the government. iEARN (International Education And Resource Network) Côte d’Ivoire, a local NGO, has been working on a project to restore peace and watch on it at once and for good. The organization developed a new strategy for its campaign for the establishment of a DOP-MFP in the country. This consists in the instauration of a “National Decade for a Culture of Peace, Non-violence and Coexistence 2011-2020” to be launched on November 15th 2011 at the favor of the national day of peace. But prior to this iEARN Côte d’Ivoire plans to organize a workshop on the issue of peacebuilding and peace consolidation in Côte d’Ivoire after the different crisis encountered. The organization plans to hold this workshop over three days on September 19th, 20th and 21st 2011.

Highlights of recent activities, events or action steps taken to further this campaign

To make this project a success so to better plead in favor of the inception of a DOP MFP in Côte d’Ivoire, iEARN has been considering partnerships with local organizations and international organizations, agencies and institutions. Many mails ha s been sent to this end to UNDP Ivory Coast, ONUCI, Le Conseil Economique et Social de Côte d’Ivoire. iEARN Côte d’Ivoire will be approaching the Fondacion de Paz to forge a partnership with. To catch the attention of the national authorities on the necessity to create this infrastructure of peace to continue the work to be performed by the national “Commission Dialogue, Justice et Réconciliation a partnership from the GLOBAL ALLIANCE and the DOP-MFP interested in supporting iEARN Côte d’Ivoire are of key importance”. Other major information a new government will be formed (within six months?) just after the parliamentary elections. So time is counted. We must go faster with effectiveness.

We are hereby then calling on your assistance and begging your involvement by our side in order to share your experience and expertise with us. We hope to hear good from you very soon. And we are looking forward to achieving this important project with your partnership and sponsorship.

iEARN Côte d’Ivoire appeals on the GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF MOP-DFP to consider the organization of an international conference on peace restoration and consolidation in Côte d’Ivoire. The reply for this proposal is still awaited.