Success Story: Ivory Coast

In the July of 2007, the President of Ivory Coast, Mr. Laurent Gbagbo made his first visit to the rebel stronghold of Bouake as there had been a peace deal 5 months ago allowing the reunification of North and South Ivory Coast. He solemnly took an oath in front of the Ivorian flag along with Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, who until a few months ago controlled the town as the leader of the Rebels. Both of them set the rebel weapons on fire as a symbol of brotherhood and reunion. 

Weapons being burnt down publicly.
Content from BBC News

 “By setting fire to these guns which were the seeds of destruction, we are marking the end of the war,” Soro said. He told the Prime Minister that his coming to Bouake meant that Ivory Coast was one again.

They were joined by Diplomats from South Africa, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Niger and Ghana. The Diplomats were surrounding the pile of weapons as a torch was passed on until Gbagbo who set the weapons on fire. He declared, "Dear People of Ivory Coast, the war is over!"

For years Ivory Coast had been divided into two warring states, with a rebel control of North while the Government holding the South. The war had erupted in 2002 but the peace deal signed in March made Soro the Prime Minister and rebels lay down theirs guns.

There were 9000 U.N. troops in the buffer zone that divides the country but since the peace deal, the buffer zone is being dismantled.

Today Ivory Coast is the largest exporter of Cocoa and the Most Cosmopolitan country in the region.

This is one of the many success stories that have proven that Understanding is what brings Peace.

War is the weapon of the weak.

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