It has become a recurring joke on social media in Ivory Coast: “And you, do you live in the world of Kouadio or in the world of Ams? Ams is Amadou Coulibaly, Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman; Kouadio is Bishop Marcellin Yao Kouadio, of the diocese of Daloa (center-west), who recently became the new president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Côte d’Ivoire (Cecci).
The religious organization held its usual plenary general assembly in early June, for the 123rd time in its history. The newly appointed president, Bishop Kouadio, took the floor for the closing mass on June 4. Denouncing the prevailing socio-political climate in the country, economic inequalities and, pell-mell, “tribalism” and “selective justice”, the prelate launched into a flamboyant homily, several times acclaimed by the faithful.
His speech, filmed, went viral on social networks. “Who benefits from the much-hyped economic growth?” he exclaimed. The Ivorian economy is said to be one of the best performing in the world. Which world, the real world or the invisible world? People are saddened, we are witnessing a real impoverishment of rural areas. Development in Côte d’Ivoire, the bishop said, is “carried out as a piece of cake, in recognition of the docile militant or in retaliation for rebellious localities.”
Bishop Kouadio then hardened his tone against the “widespread corruption” of political elites, a “people constantly humiliated and taken hostage”, an “armed democracy” where “most of the time, those who talk about peace walk around in anti-corruption vests. -bullets”. And to conclude on the influence deemed deleterious of a “decadent West” which would like to “continue to dominate and moralize the world, particularly our Africa”. “Immorality is exported through homosexuality,” he said, adding that “we talk about LGBT as if it were a real estate company, we talk about zoophilia, legalizing sex. abortion, euthanasia, the practice of the death penalty…”
The opposition newspapers feasted; those close to the ruling party, the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), were outraged.
A prelate “stepped out of his role”
Questioned on the subject on June 7, during the traditional press conference at the end of the Council of Ministers, Amadou Coulibaly replied sharply by defending the government’s record. “Me, my world is that today in Côte d’Ivoire, a citizen does not travel more than five kilometers to find a health center. […] Me, my world is that a child does not travel more than five kilometers to go to college…” And to conclude: “It is in this world that I live. I can’t tell if it’s invisible or if it’s real. But since the bishop and I are not in the same world, I will not comment further than that. »
This is not the first time that the episcopate has turned power against itself in Côte d’Ivoire. During its 114th plenary assembly, in January 2020, Cecci had already pointed out the flaws in the national reconciliation process, the independent electoral commission and political dialogue. She had drawn the wrath of the government spokesman, at the time Sidi Tiémoko Touré, who had denied these accusations, and of the press close to power, who had accused the bishops of taking up the cause of the opposition. .
Also in September 2020, a delegation of RHDP ministers and executives went to Saint Paul’s Cathedral in Abidjan to express their dissatisfaction with the city’s archbishop, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa, who had dared to judge that President Alassane Ouattara’s candidacy for a third term was “not necessary”.
La Cecci has not communicated in recent days following the release of its new president. But the Conference of Pentecostal and Evangelical Bishops of Côte d’Ivoire (Cepeci) quickly dissociated itself through the voice of its secretary general, Jonathan Gba. In a statement communicated to the press, he judged that Bishop Kouadio had “stepped out of his role as a prelate” to hold the speech “of a politician”, and affirmed that it was not for the Church to denounce a government’s record.
“Notwithstanding what one can reproach the state authority, he concluded, the fact remains that Côte d’Ivoire has begun its cruising speed in development, in infrastructure, in peace, for her sons and daughters today walk hand in hand under a sun of security and love. »