First Lady Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children of Africa Foundation, presided over the traditional donation ceremony for the Christian community of Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Foundation's headquarters in Cocody. This act of solidarity, organized during the Lenten season, provided food supplies worth a total of 130 millions CFA francs to the most vulnerable families.
The ceremony took place in the presence of several members of the Government and numerous religious and administrative authorities, including Anne Désirée Ouloto, Minister of State, Minister of Public Service and Modernisation of Administration, General Vagondo Diomandé, Minister of the Interior and Security, as well as Myss Belmonde Dogo, Minister of National Cohesion, Solidarity and the Fight against Poverty.
Donations to Support Vulnerable Families
As she does every year, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, President of the Children of Africa Foundation, has renewed her commitment to supporting the most vulnerable populations. For the 2026 edition, donations of essential food items were distributed to Christian communities. These included 3,000 25kg bags of rice; 2,000 25kg bags of sugar; 3,000 5kg bags of pasta; 1,200 cartons of oil; 500 cartons of tomato paste; 300 cartons of milk; and 200 cartons of peas, which will be distributed to Catholic parishes, Methodist churches, Evangelical churches, and churches of Africa, as well as various religious congregations and associations. “For this year 2026, we are pleased to present donations worth 130 million FCFA to the Christian community of our country. These donations are intended to support the most vulnerable families so that they can experience Lent peacefully,” said Mrs. Dominique Ouattara.
A Call to Pray for Peace in Côte d’Ivoire
Mrs. Dominique Ouattara also expressed her hope that this spiritual period would be a source of peace and hope for all. “I pray that this Lenten season will be a time of peace, love, and joy for everyone. I also hope that we will continue to pray together for our beloved Côte d’Ivoire so that it remains a country of fraternity among all its children,” Mrs. Ouattara stated.
For General Vagondo Diomandé, Minister of the Interior and Security, this donation ceremony, which has now become a tradition, reflects Mrs. Ouattara’s commitment to vulnerable people. “Beyond its material dimension, this ceremony brilliantly embodies the values of humanism, solidarity, and faith that underpin your constant commitment to the most vulnerable. It testifies to a profoundly social vision of public action,” Minister Diomandé emphasized. According to him, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara demonstrates that benevolence is a requirement and not a pose.
“Through your initiative, you are giving substance to the Christian ideal of loving one’s neighbor and reminding us that generosity is one of the surest paths to shared dignity,” added Minister Diomandé Vagondo. Furthermore, General Vagondo Diomandé noted the coincidence of the start of Christian Lent and the Muslim month of Ramadan in Côte d’Ivoire. For him, this simultaneity is a symbol inviting believers to cohesion and unity, as well as to living together in harmony. “This year gives this celebration a particular significance. Indeed, Christian Lent and the Muslim month of Ramadan began on the same day, offering our nation a rare moment of spiritual convergence. This simultaneity of fasting and prayer is a powerful symbol of unity and cohesion beyond religious affiliations. It reminds us that faith in its diversity can be a powerful force for peace and living together,” declared General Vagondo Diomandé.
Ms. Myss Belmonde Dogo, Minister of Social Cohesion, Solidarity, and the Fight Against Poverty, also highlighted this spiritual coincidence. For her, it was an invitation to religious leaders to pray for social cohesion and peace in Côte d'Ivoire. Furthermore, she emphasized to religious authorities the religious diversity that has long been a source of strength for the country. The Minister also reiterated the importance and symbolic value of donations and assistance to impoverished populations.
Bishop Emile Kelignon, representing the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Côte d'Ivoire and spokesperson for the beneficiaries, thanked the First Lady for her act of solidarity.
