Prayer points

Outright conflict is over in Ivory Coast but the peace is extremely fragile. Although some areas remain volatile, there are signs of life returning to normal in much of the country. During the height of the fighting, caused by a disputed election last November, a million people were displaced. Many people are now returning home but there are no accurate figures on those still to do so. Please pray for peace to be strengthened and for reconciliation between the two sides. Pray too for comfort for those who are grieving and for Ivory Coast’s new government to tackle allegations of human rights abuses, levelled against both sides, in a way that fosters reconciliation. (Tearfund - July 2011)

Please continue to pray for Ivory Coast following the arrest of President Laurent Gbagbo in April. Alassane Ouattarra has now assumed control and Mr Gbagbo is facing judicial proceedings over the disputed election which led to the crisis. The humanitarian problems continue to worsen. As well as more than a million people homeless inside Ivory Coast, 135,000 Ivorians have fled into Liberia. Pray for peace and an end to violence in the country. (Tearfund - May 2011)

The political crisis following the Ivory Coast’s first presidential election in ten years has led many to fear that the country may revert to civil war. Incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara have both claimed victory at the second round of the presidential elections held in November 2010. They have also sworn themselves in as presidents and have formed their separate governments. As the political stalemate continues, escalating violence has led tens of thousands to flee to neighbouring Liberia and many people are missing amid allegations of kidnappings and executions. Pray for Mr Gbagbo and Mr Ouattara to think again about their positions and that they may have room in their hearts to engineer a peaceful settlement to the political crisis quickly. (Tearfund - March 2011)

It’s been a long time coming but on 31st October voters in the West African state of Côte d’Ivoire will finally have their say in the country's presidential election. Six previous attempts to give people a chance to have their say about who rules them have been aborted over the last five years, so there’s a real sense of anticipation. Yet there’s wariness too that things could go wrong. The UN has sent 500 extra peacekeepers to Côte d’Ivoire to bolster the 8,500 others it has there. That force harks back to the unstable aftermath of a civil war between 2002-03 and simmering tension in the years since. This has had a detrimental impact on what was once one of Africa’s economic success stories. As the world’s biggest cocoa grower, Côte d’Ivoire has the potential to make big strides forward if a stable political environment emerges. Please pray for the election to go ahead this Sunday in a peaceful manner. Pray for it to be conducted fairly and transparently and that a new government can restore Côte d’Ivoire’s economy and resolve the underlying tensions which remain since the civil war. (Tearfund – September 2010)

A recent BBC story from the Ivory Coast had an eye-watering figure on the cost of corruption there. Every year, citizens of the West African state pay £200 million in bribes at checkpoints. The figure came from the president of the country’s chamber of commerce and he put it as a conservative one; he reckoned it could be up to £400 million. that would represent two percent of the economy. Corruption is a symptom of poor governance, representing a broken relationship between governments and their citizens. In turn, poor governance worsens the plight of people in poverty. Ask the Lord to lift up world leaders with integrity and honesty who can restore relationships between governments and their citizens as they should be. (Tearfund – September 2010)

Côte d’Ivoire has been a land of opportunity. Although 38 percent of its population is Muslim and new believers may face persecution, the country’s doors have remained open and there have been no restrictions on sharing the gospel. For decades Côte d’Ivoire was an oasis of stability and economic growth attracting great numbers of needy people from the surrounding countries. Sadly, since 1999 this reputation has been marred by internal conflicts. As a result of freedom of religion, every Muslim sect has sent missionaries to Côte d’Ivoire. They are gaining ground, but where are the ambassadors for Christ? (WEC International - July 2010)