PRAYER FOR PEACE IN IVORY COAST: THE #PATHOSOFPEACE INTERFAITH MEETING IS SPONSORED BY SANT’EGIDIO IN ABIDJAN.

 There was a strong call for peace even from Abidjan, which is the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire. This happened along with the international "Paths of Peace" meeting in Munster and Osnabruck, Germany. On Sunday, September 24, Christians and Muslims gathered at the Community of Sant'Egidio House, which is situated in the Treichville neighborhood, to experience together a time of reflection and prayer for peace. There were multiple participants such as the apostolic nuncio Joseph Spiteri, the president of the Ivorian Bishops' Conference, Ignace Bessy Dogbo, the bishop in charge of the Methodist Church, Benjamin Bony, the Muslim youth leader together with imams from different neighborhoods of the city. Members of civil society and diplomatic corps were also present.

The significance of preserving a religious cohabitation, which has always existed in the region, was emphasized especially because Côte d'Ivoire has recently been a victim of terrorism and has experienced widespread violence in some of its areas, including at the youth level. However, the parties even focused on global issues and prayed for the victims of emigration and countries at war. For instance, they hoped for a full reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire, which is a West African country that in the past, specifically from 2002 to 2011, faced a political crisis that divided the country in two and caused numerous victims.