President Alassane Ouattara, whose re-election at the head of Côte d’Ivoire for a controversial third term was validated on Monday by the Constitutional Council, called his main opponent, ex-president Henri Konan Bédié, yet at the head of the National Transitional Council (CNT), at a “meeting”, during a televised address to the nation. Mr. Ouattara, 78, invited his “eldest Henri Konan Bédié (86) in the next few days for a frank and sincere dialogue in order to restore confidence”, he said while the opposition has refused to recognize his re-election and created the National Transitional Council.
Words of conciliation …
The day Monday, when the opposition called for demonstrations, was marked by violence that left at least nine dead in the country. If he “asked” the opposition to put a “definitive” end to the CNT, President Ouattara, who has twice said that he would be the “president of all Ivorians”, “reaffirmed his availability for a sincere and constructive dialogue with the opposition while respecting the constitutional order ”. “I ask all our fellow citizens in a spirit of appeasement of minds and hearts to work to strengthen peace,” he added. He also expressed his “compassion” to those who died, even citing the names of a dozen victims of all ages and ethnicities. “I invite you to mutual forgiveness and tolerance in order to continue living together in peace,” he added.
… to prevent the escalation of violence
Electoral violence, which has often degenerated into intercommunal clashes, has killed around 50 people since August. The fear of an escalation of violence remains present in this West African country, ten years after the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011 which left 3,000 dead. Elected in 2010, re-elected in 2015, Alassane Ouattara announced in March that he was giving up a new candidacy, before changing his mind in August, following the death of his designated runner-up, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, to who he “dedicated his victory”. The Ivorian fundamental law provides for a maximum of two terms, but the Constitutional Council estimated that with the new Constitution adopted in 2016, the presidential term counter was reset to zero. What the opposition disputes. The Constitutional Council validated Monday the victory of the president on the score of 94.27% in the presidential election of October 31.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
