Source: http://www.chenkeleb.com/2017/06/funny-war-in-west-africa.html

The confrontation has begun in recent years. As in the case of the First World War, the "Great War", it had become immobilized in trenches, each one having retrenched itself behind its position. Even if it was cruel, we were amused by what was called the "funny war."

In West Africa, we have our "funny war" to us. Here, to get out of these trenches, and to settle the differences and the dispute, engaged the battle of Alepe (Alépé is a town in south-eastern Ivory Coast). It was in this village that the decisive battle took place with the sword. Both will seek to convert with sharp arguments.


Yes, Alepe is comparable to Bastogne. They are two strategic cities to block, on the one hand, the counter-offensive of the German army, and on the other, the rise of the dissidents who want to seize an Akyy capital. It is always important to have the courage to take the bull by the horns.

Neither cold nor warm, this warm war will pass the upper temperature. We will no longer fight with speckled foil as we have done up to that point. The swords will come out of their scabbards. We will no longer shoot blank even if the sword is a white weapon. One will fight in hand to hand, and foot to foot. It will no longer be at a distance and by soldiers interposed. We move from the "warning" to the brief and direct formula "Warning!". It means that the duel can begin! We forget the "stake" and the stake! Sword of one hand and pen of the other, had written the Portuguese poet Camoens!

It will be with the sword! For want of allies who bombard the adversary without mood. It is not for want of having arrested Mount Olympus. These Olympians, who knows their logic? When Zeus refuses to use his thunders, men must take their fate in their hands!

Once the sword was presented to the other, the battle had to enter its decisive phase. We have no idea of ​​presenting the weapons to the other! Is it not to give him to fight his adversaries? Presenting weapons is not only honorable. It can be argued that everyone can benefit. One must not forget that honoring one is dishonouring the other. Antagonistic, implacable and ruthless dialectic!

What is the difference between a needle and a sword? Easy to find. Do not tell me that one is the other in miniature and that the two sting. One helps sew and consolidate concord. The other serves to dissolve and consolidate the discord. The loincloth is the best success of the needle. Tribute to the creativity of our couturiers, even if we do not grant equal dignity to our dressmakers in front of their machines "Singer".

The time of the needle has passed. We are like the sword! One can say, even if only tactically, that the unit is at the end or point of the sword. After the decisive battle and the defeat-annihilation of the other, unity would come from the suppression of contradiction. By pruning the tree with swords, the unit of the tree will be strengthened. Multiplicity of roots but unit of the trunk. Long live the trunk so that a thousand flowers and a thousand leaves bloom!

The sword seems more noble than to fight with sticks, more honorable than with the sword and the cutlass, even more than with our vulgar cutters. To young people, we leave the use of machetes. The sword is for the gentlemen who have the sense of honor, what we used to see in the films of cloak and sword. D'Artagnan, Portos, Athos, and Aramis! But above all the musketeers who arrested poor Fouquet, the squirrel who wished to dazzle the Sun King!

Alepe is not a cut-throat, a disreputable place and aloof from civilization. It is one of the three capitals in "pe" of the akyé country: Akoupé (Kettin), Adzopé (Tchoya) and Alépé (Lépin). It is suitable for settling disputes between persons of good faith and good education.

What does the militant people do? Wisdom commands them to listen to each other. The akyé country is an important stake after the country wè. That goes without saying. But, they are also apparently actors. They must not remain spectators dumbfounded or amused or disillusioned. They are invited to decide.

Going or not going to Akouré? This is the question, the real question posed by the sword. Those who are going to Akouré must know that they encourage the outcast. And with them they run to their ruin. These are full of rage but lack the courage to face Zeus on his Olympus!

It is necessary to go to the boarding, to throw in the water hoping each not to drown. Everyone is persuaded to be a better swimmer than the other. The navy of Antoine and Cleopatra cast, they lost their illusions and their empire.

The river closest to Alépé is the Comoé if I am not mistaken and probably further the Me which gives its name to the region. Unfortunately, history teaches us that Pearl Harbor did not lead to a Japanese victory. The glove has been thrown away for a long time. On land and on sea and on river, the battle is engaged!

I was interested in the famous battles and swords of old. I realized that Murgleis is the name of the sword of a certain Ganelon, the felon cousin of Roland. That of Goliath will serve to cut off his own head, after his defeat through a modest sling. It is called "Al-Battar" and is also called "The sword of the prophets" . We must beware of the slingers because with their sling they want to play David.

There are sinister swords like "Blutgang" (blut meaning blood) and the well-known one of Damocles, suspended on the heads of all the belligerents. But there are also virtuous swords charged with defending noble causes. Among these are Durandal de Roland, the defeated of Roncesvalles, Excalibur of King Arthur. I do not know the name of Richard's sword heart of lion. But we know that in his captivity, his brother Prince John assured a controversial and disputed succession by Robin Hood and his outlaws. Add to this list of virtuous weapons, the swords forged by the famous Japanese Maisamune.

Even though they have inflicted death on them, one can be delighted to hear sword names such as Charlemagne's "The Joyeuse", William II's "Courtoise". In Northern mythology, the sword "Angurva" is called "brook of anxiety".

One can not be surprised at the battle of Alepe when one learns that the Prophet Muhammad himself possessed nine swords, one of which bore the right name of "Tranchant". Conversions are not always a matter of holy words! It was necessary to fight and cross the iron at that time as in that of the Crusades where sword and crucifix were confused. Jerusalem continues to be the lust of those who have long swords and spoons, as Alepe becomes today, all proportion kept.

Obviously, the affairs of swords are not as tender as it seems. These are weapons that hurt and kill. Ali, the companion of the Prophet paid the price. He was stabbed at Kufa in front of the mosque, from there dating the schism between Shiites and Sunnis! How many blows did Caesar receive in front of the statue of Pompey, saying "Thou also my son! "Or something closer to our situation.

Those who use swords know that they must prepare what they call "secret boot". The famous "Coup de Jarnac" would be a decisive, violent, skillful, unexpected coup d'etat, but also bearing the infamous mark of treason. Jarnac on lagoon Ebrié, who knows what this represents?

Everyone prepares so that the battle of Alepe is decisive and put an end to all the war of division. The Malinké say "Ban kèlè", the battle that puts an end to all battles. Each hopes to carry the stunt, the bull's killing by the matador, placing the sword where it is to ensure its victory and glory. Olé!

And if, in spite of all the rumble and decibels, the battle of Alepe was finally a sword in the water? We would come back to the starting exercise: win or lose ground.

I like Zorro because, apart from the just causes he defends, he does not kill and is content, with his sword, to sign Z on the front of his opponents. But I know that every staccato, and therefore every scar, does not favor forgetfulness or reconciliation. Alepe does not rhyme with peace for the stupid reason that the city is not called Alepaix!