Cote d'Ivoire stresses appeal to exiled citizens to return

Cote d'Ivoire's Minister for Solidarity and Social Cohesion Mariatou Kone on Monday reiterated the government's appeal to those still living in exile to return to the country.

"The president of the republic has pardoned everyone. Thousands of our fellow citizens have returned and we urge those still remaining to return without any fear," Kone said when she addressed the press in Abidjan.

According to the minister, solutions are being sought for some of the challenges raised by some of those in exile.

"Regarding the issue of occupied houses, a committee has been formed to recover property. To date, over 70 percent of public and private property has been recovered," she revealed.

As for the issue of frozen accounts, the minister said the government is progressively unfreezing the accounts, and that the matter will be resolved on a case-to-case basis.

"We urge them to return and raise their problems. Their challenges will not be resolved if they stay in exile," she insisted.

"The government is determined to support voluntary return of all refugees," Kone said, adding that Cote d'Ivoire nationals are living in exile in ten countries that include Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Cameroon and Guinea.

While addressing the nation on the eve of the New Year, Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara urged his fellow citizens still living in exile to return and contribute to the country's reconstruction process.

At the height of the 2010-2011 post-election violence in Cote d'Ivoire, thousands of Cote d'Ivoire nationals fled the country.

Official figures show that out of 300,000 Cote d'Ivoire nationals who left the country at the start of the crisis to take refuge in neighbouring countries, two thirds have so far returned to the country. Enditem