Ivory Coast: 'Commission on dialogue, truth and reconciliation' inaugurated

30 September 2011 - The 'Commission on dialogue, truth and reconciliation' was launched in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of the Ivory Coast, on Wednesday 28 September 2011.

Chairman of Interpeace, President John A. Kufuor, and Scott M. Weber, Director-General both attended the ceremony held at the Fondation Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

They joined representatives from the country’s government institutions and over 2000 guests.

President Alassane Ouattara inaugurated the commission, known locally in French as ‘La Commission dialogue, vérité et réconciliation’ (CDVR).

The ceremony marked the beginning of a healing process as the county looks to address the scars that resulted from the post-election violence that erupted across the country.

Following the inauguration of the 'Commission on dialogue, truth and reconciliation' in the Ivory Coast.

In President Ouattara’s speech he highlighted the importance of the process, stressing that "the reconciliation process will be our national therapy." Former Prime Minister and President of the Commission, Charles Konan Banny, presented the role of the commission and highlighted that the future dialogue "will have to be inclusive and honest.” 

A girl's choir performed as part of the ceremony and at the end, one of the young singers reminded the audience that the work of the commission is about the  future of the Ivory Coast: “As you dialogue, don’t forget this is about us. We are the future of the Ivory Coast.”