Credit:  Sara Abraham  /  ©Diplomatic Times  /  Nov. 4, 2020.   Ivorians in  commercial city  Abidjan  in Côte d’Ivoire  after President Alassane Ouattara wins bid for third term. 

By Sara Abraham       DIPLOMATIC TIMES

ABIDJAN –  Côte d’Ivoire  – France is calling for political dialogue, reconciliation amid rising tensions after the elections in West African nation Ivory Coast.  Tension is brewing  after the call for civil disobedience by the opposition and reports of security forces surrounding and blocking access to the homes of several of its leaders. Alassane Ouattara  won a third term in power as President of Ivory Coast after a controversial  election.  The main opposition candidates boycotted the election and called on supporters to stay at home as an act of civil disobedience.  Opposition leader Pascal Affi N’Guessan had told reporters late on Monday that opposition parties and groups were forming a “council of national transition”.  

“France calls on all actors to put an end to the provocation and intimidation that have persisted since the election. The rule of law must prevail. It underscores the urgent need to resume political dialogue in Côte d’Ivoire to foster reconciliation through concrete measures aimed at turning the page on violence and division. France fully shares the concerns expressed by the EU with respect to the tensions and incitements to hatred that prevailed during this election and condemns the serious violence that has occurred. It also notes the wide disparities in voter turnout in different regions of the country.”

-Statements made by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson PARIS – Nov. 04, 2020

Credit:  Sara Abraham  /  ©Diplomatic Times  /  Nov. 4, 2020.   Life goes on in bustling market in Adjamé  section of  commercial city  Abidjan  in Côte d’Ivoire  after President Alassane Ouattara wins bid for third term. 

“It underscores the urgent need to resume political dialogue in Côte d’Ivoire to foster reconciliation through concrete measures aimed at turning the page on violence and division. It supports the efforts to provide assistance in this respect by regional and international organizations and, as such, joins ECOWAS and the African Union in calling on parties to refrain from any initiative that falls outside the constitutional framework.”

-Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson PARIS – Nov. 04, 2020

Credit:  Sara Abraham  /  ©Diplomatic Times  /  Nov. 4, 2020.   Commercial city  Abidjan  in Côte d’Ivoire  after President Alassane Ouattara wins bid for third term. 

Ivory Coast Justice Minister Sansan Kambile accused the opposition of “acts of assault and plotting against the authority of the state”.

In a joint statement, the UN, African Union and Economic Community of West African States regional bloc called on Ivory Coast’s opposition to “respect constitutional order” and seek dialogue, while urging all sides to show “restraint to preserve human lives.”

Many fear Ivory Coast could descend into the type of violence that killed 3,000 people a decade ago when then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat by Ouattara.