LOUCOUMANE COULIBALY THOUSANDS of people gathered for Christmas mass at the giant Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro to mark the end of a year marred by COVID-19 and a disputed election that opened deep wounds in the West African nation. The chapel, whose towering dome is modelled after St Peter's basilica in the Vatican, sits on the edge of Ivory Coast's administrative capital, surrounded by flat savannah. After nightfall on Thursday, worshippers descended on the church, observing anti-virus measures, including social distancing and hand washing before attending midnight mass. "My message during these Christmas festivities is to…