Gbagbo was caught, IB was shot and this week Ble Goude is coming out of his shadows - could make for a great movie ...
Personally, I'm concerned, I will admit to being a French resident but am worried about the future French involvement. I can see Cote d'Ivoire being a semi-colony of France which wasn't the objective during independence. Last weekend I was talking to a French soldier who was in Bouake from December until April, with a few others ready to make a strike, they left before Gbagbo was captured or the strikes were made across Abidjan.
French Special Forces aren't to be messed with, this one left with his colleagues before it all got nasty. We were in touch whilst I was there, hence I knew movements & my personal safety whilst I was in situ. The messages I got whilst on the ground were difficult to deal with; I couldn't disclose the situation earlier due to the situation of their mission. I felt sometimes like I was on a knife edge knowing too much possibly, but wanting the best.
I was there when things weren't that bad when you compare with what happened in March & April. Predominantly I was there for C.R.E.E.R, to have a meeting with the Mayor which took a month to arrange, at the same time I needed to go to Burkina Faso for work. I never got there, I'm now in a difficult situation; C.R.E.E.R isn't as it should be especially for our partners in Canada & I'm without work - which in France without a salaried position isn't funny. It means that I must continue to search for work, I don't get any social help & am close to shutting down my business ..
So where to go from here? I don't know .. we're now submitting papers without any assistance & hoping for the best; I believe it will work out, C.R.E.E.R will be an entity shortly in Cote d'Ivoire: We have to be soon, I'm right behind that but any assistance is a bonus!
C.R.E.E.R needs setting up soon, our future director saw kids of 10 or 11 on the streets armed with guns. The Mayor said that he needs time to get his political career sorted; it's now 10 months since our first meeting with him (prior to the crisis) to get this going. I realise & know that this is not a political issue but surely the future of Ivoirian children are an issue???
Someone prove me wrong please!
Yako mes amis; surtout a Yop et a ailleurs!!!
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