(credit: twitter.com/presidenceci)  Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara 

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Alassane  Ouattara has been sworn in office Monday for a controversial  third term as the president of West African nation Ivory Coast.  Ouattara  was re-elected president October 31. The main opposition candidates boycotted the election and calling on supporters to stay at home as an act of civil disobedience.  Pre-election violence escalated amid anger over Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term many condemn as “illegal” and against the nation’s constitution.  President Ouattara shocked the country in August when he formally accepted the nomination of the ruling party to be its candidate in October’s election.  

President Ouattara said Monday that in order to further consolidate national cohesion, “I plan to create a Ministry in charge of National Reconciliation in the coming days.”

Afin de consolider davantage la cohésion nationale, j’envisage de créer un Ministère en charge de la Réconciliation Nationale dans les prochains jours.#InvestitureADO pic.twitter.com/1dBdhQNnbZ

— Alassane Ouattara (@AOuattara_PRCI) December 14, 2020

FRANCE  Minister for Foreign Affaris Jean-Yves le Drian  Meets With President Ouattara in Ivory Coast 

Jean-Yves Le Drian,  France Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (lc.ambafrance.org)

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs  Jean-Yves  Le  Drian was in Côte d’Ivoire Monday  to represent President Macron at the inauguration of Ouattara.  During the visit, Le Drian was received by President Ouattara to discuss the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and the initiatives aimed at helping to ease tensions and promote reconciliation, according  to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.  President Ouattara and Le Drian  also discussed regional security issues, as well as the major aspects of cooperation between France and the Côte d’Ivoire.

Former French President Sarkozy Also Visits His Friend Ouattara in Ivory  Coast Inauguration 

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan also attended Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara’s inauguration in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monday Dec. 14, 20

J’invite l’ensemble des partis politiques à saisir cette nouvelle opportunité qui s’offre à tous pour aboutir à la décrispation du climat politique, par le dialogue, afin de renforcer la paix et la stabilité dans notre pays. #InvestitureADO pic.twitter.com/IpRR0X3Vjc

— Alassane Ouattara (@AOuattara_PRCI) December 14, 2020

 Many Ivorians Skeptical of President Ouattara Call For Reconciliation 

Credit:  Sara Abraham  /  ©Diplomatic Times  /   “A Solidarity Côte d’Ivoire”  billboard in  Côte d’Ivoire commercial city Abidjan after President Alassane Ouattara wins bid for third term Oct. 31, 2020.

Many Ivorians stayed at home boycotting the election. Tension was high as the government deployed  some 35,000 security force members on election day to maintain peace. At least 20 people were killed in inter-communal clashes and in confrontations between security forces and supporters of opposition parties in several localities of Côte d’Ivoire in the run-up to the 31 October elections.   “This guy(President Ouattara) showed his true character by first saying he would not run for a third term then going back on his word. You can’t believe anything his says,” an Ivorian said who  did not want  to identify himself.