Former Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba has sent a message to his countrymen as they celebrate National Peace Day today, Nov 12, in Ivory Coast.

In a statement on his official Twitter account, the Ivorian football legend sued for “peace” and “nothing but peace.”

His message comes in a time of unrest and violence in the country dating back to August after President Alassane  Ouattara announced his bid for a third spell in office, arguing that a 2016 revision of the constitution reset his term counter to zero — a claim the opposition vigorously refutes.

According to AFP, the official death toll from the unrest rose to 85 on Wednesday(Nov 11), fuelling fears that francophone West Africa’s biggest economy could plunge once more into post-election conflict.

On November 10, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, stated that it had registered 8,000 people as having fled the country  — half of them to neighbouring Liberia — and the rest to Ghana, Guinea, and Togo.

Speaking on Sunday, Drogba said: “On this day of the celebration of peace in our dear country, I join in all the steps and wishes in this direction. My compatriots in general and the youth in particular to whom I address myself regularly, a fundamental pillar of our societies, are at the heart of the matter.

En ce jour de la célébration de la paix dans notre cher pays, je m’associe à toutes les démarches et vœux dans ce sens. Mes compatriotes en général et la jeunesse en particulier à qui je m’adresse régulièrement, pilier fondamental de nos sociétés,
sont au cœur du sujet.

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) November 15, 2020

“As an Ivorian, my dearest wish is that we integrate the importance of messages and acts of peace, of good citizenship, in an ever-increasing concern for development. Life is precious!

“I, therefore, take this opportunity and offer my sincere condolences to all of Côte d’Ivoire for the recent loss of life. Peace, peace, nothing but PEACE.”