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Dear Praying friends,
 Many have noticed that Côte d'Ivoire has hit news again. Permit
me to answer some of the questions that we have been receiving.
- As we left
the country in October, we had been sensing progress in the move toward bringing
the two year old civil war to an end. A few of the roadblocks had come
down and the disarmement was scheduled. When there was no indication that
any disarmement woud take place on or near the deadline, the former Prime
Minister announce that the government and it's supporters planned to march on
Bouaké (the rebel capitol) in November 12th.
- On November 4th the government
made two bombing raids on Bouaké and two more on Friday. In one
of the raids they bombed a French military position and nine French soldiers
were killed along with an American development worker. The French retaliated
by destroying Côte d'Ivoire's two jets as they sat on the ground in Yamoussoukro. They
then destroyed several helicopters and put an end to any plans of further air
attacks by the government.
- Since the French got involved in the
peace keeping process in late 2002 there has been a
growing animosity toward all French citizens and anyone
that looks like they could be French. Now with the French attack
on the Ivorian Air Force this animosity escalated into vicious and brutal attacks
on people that don't "look" Ivorian.
- Many, many people have died including
the rebel leader that has had our 4x4 since the war started. He was killed
at the hand of his own people in Bouaké. Hundreds more have been
wounded. Thousands of French and other foreign nationals are being evacuated
and many of the missionaries in Côte d'Ivoire are preparing to leave once
again. Some will choose to "ride it out" and then resume their work when
things settle down.
- At the moment, our plans are to return
in January as scheduled. No,
we do not feel like God is leading us elsewhere. We plan to continue to
press forward. Of course, we will not take uninformed risks nor tempt
danger, but we will move forward as each path opens to us. One of our Pastors
wrote from Côte d'Ivoire and sounded a little traumatised, but the others
have given no indication that they sense any real danger. Please pray
for them.
Thank you for your concern and your continued
prayer. God Bless,
Tim & Barbara
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Tim & Barbara Downs
B.P. 1444
Yamoussoukro
Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
www.WestAfricaNow.com
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