IVORY COAST: Abidjan residents are fighting a chronic lack of cash and insecurity to celebrate Easter

Record ID: 181657

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Abidjan residents are fighting a chronic lack of cash and insecurity to celebrate Easter
  • Date: 22nd April 2011
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (APRIL 21, 2011) (REUTERS) BOAT MOVING ON THE LAGOON, ABIDJAN DOWNTOWN IN BACKGROUND STREET SCENES CLOSED SHOP VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS SUPERMARKET EXTERIOR VARIOUS OF WOMAN PULLING EMPTY SHOPPING CART THROUGH SUPERMARKET ANTOINE YACE, BUSINESSMAN SUPERMARKET AISLES (SOUNDBITE) (French) ANTOINE YACE, BUSINESSMAN SAYING: ''I think that with everything that is happening to us, only God knows how we are going to celebrate Easter. With the little money we managed to put aside, God urged that I do this, I am sure that there are people who are buying things, not knowing even where the money is coming from. So, God should be thanked immediately. That's all'' VARIOUS OF TILL OPERATOR SCANNING ITEMS (SOUNDBITE) (French) SOLANGE YAPI, OFFICE CLEANER, SAYING: ''We make do with what we have, because we have children that cannot stay hungry. We'll grab things that we can eat as a family. That's all.'' VARIOUS OF TILL OPERATOR COUNTING CASH VARIOUS OF FRCI (IVORY COAST REPUBLICAN FORCES) MILITARY VEHICLE HOTEL EXTERIOR IN WHICH MADICKE NIANG, SENEGALESE FOREIGN MINISTER IS STAYING NIANG WALKING THROUGH HOTEL LOBBY JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) MADICKE NIANG, SENEGALESE FOREIGN MINISTER SAYING: ''Africa should be the continent of good governance and democracy. And for that, we need examples. It belongs to the Ivorian people, it belongs to President Ouattara, to Ivorian justice to make the most opportune decisions. In any case, what we wish for is a united Ivory Coast, one which has reconciled with itself so it can play its role.'' UNITED NATIONS (UN) TANKS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ALMAMY KANTE, WELDER SAYING: ''To all those who have left Abidjan, we call upon them to return to Abidjan. They should all return to Abidjan. There is calm, there is security, to come back to Abidjan and resume their work. To those who work in offices, let them go back to their offices. To those who have small professions like us, let them resume their small professions so life can move forward.'' VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS
  • Embargoed: 7th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVA9TGKSZYSXXL5R3Q7XTKO69IP1
  • Story Text: More than ten days since the arrest of former President Laurent Gbagbo, and the Ivorian economy is still idle.
    The bloody five-months struggle following the country's disputed elections, after Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down, forced the closure of the central bank, private banks and businesses across the economic spectrum.
    Even though President Alassane Ouattara said he hoped the central bank would resume activity this week, Ivorians find themselves cash-strapped on one of the most important holidays on the Christian calendar.
    Ivorians will have to wait until at least the beginning of May Central Bank reopens.
    As they wait, they are having to meticulously restrict their spending. Every penny they have managed to salvage since the crisis erupted will have to be accounted for as they attempt to celebrate this year's Good Friday and Easter.
    ''I think that with everything that is happening to us, only God knows how we are going to celebrate Easter. With the little money we managed to put aside, God urged that I do this, I am sure that there are people who are buying things, not knowing even where the money is coming from. So, God should be thanked immediately. That's all,'' said Antoine Yace, whose business is at a standstill.
    With most shops closed, it is only the occasional supermarket that is functioning. But beyond the sliding doors, its aisles are lined with merchandise that has, in some cases almost tripled in price since the political standoff.
    The cost of basic commodities like milk, rice, bread and fuel has skyrocketed, forcing the capital's resident to be very selective about their easter shopping.
    ''We make do with what we have, because we have children that cannot stay hungry. We'll grab things that we can eat as a family. That's all,'' said Solange Yapi, an office cleaner.
    Cocoa exports, Ivory Coast's largest foreign exchange earner also came to a halt, dragging the country's economy with it. Ouattara however also gave assurances that they would resume.
    But as gunfire still rings out in some of the capital's neighborhoods, the residents of Abidjan still fear the lack of security following the death of more than 1500 across the country, and more than 1 million displaced.
    Ivory Coast, embattled and fractured will require internal reconciliation. Yet some are doubtful that their new President will be able to provide it.
    Senegalese Foreign Minister Madicke Niang is amongst the regional and international leaders seeking to bolster Ouattara support base.
    ''Africa should be the continent of good governance and democracy. And for that, we need examples. It belongs to the Ivorian people, it belongs to President Ouattara, to Ivorian justice to make the most opportune decisions. In any case, what we wish for is a united Ivory Coast, one which has reconciled with itself so it can play its role,'' said Niang.
    The political crisis which erupted into a civil war caused the closure of all kinds of businesses and forced citizens from all professions to abandon their crafts.
    Yet as the country's feint pulse slowly becomes more and more stable, Ivorians are urging their fellow compatriots to return to work.
    ''To all those who have left Abidjan, we call upon them to return to Abidjan. They should all return to Abidjan. There is calm, there is security, to come back to Abidjan and resume their work. To those who work in offices, let them go back to their offices. To those who have small professions like us, let them resume their small professions so life can move forward,'' said Almany Kante, a welder.
    France has pledged 400 million euros to help reestablish essential services in Ivory Coast and Ivorian officials said the country was in touch with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and would have an evaluation meeting next week for a quick-disbursing Rapid Credit Facility, a mechanism designed for poorer countries hit by natural disaster or war.
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