In Côte d’Ivoire, the long-awaited political meeting will take place next Tuesday. President Alassane Ouattara invites his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo to meet him at the Presidential Palace on July 27. Since the former head of state returned last month after his acquittal at the ICC, the country has remained closed following the announcement of this first meeting, which is intended to mark an important step towards national reconciliation and easing of the political climate.
as reported from Abidjan, Sidy Yansane
Tuesday, July 27, will therefore mark the first meeting between Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo since the crisis following the 2010-2011 election, which caused the deaths of more than 3,000 people in Côte d’Ivoire, according to the UN. It will also be their first date since the historic opponent’s return last month.
In the last ten days, and through the media, the tone began to grow between the ruling party RHDP and the opposition PDCI-FPI, against the background of the third election period and violence against the Ivorian people.
Government spokesman Amadou Coulibaly assures us, however, that the president’s hand has always been extended to his opponents. “There is a dialogue that began with Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who continued with Prime Minister Hamed Bagayoko and continues with Prime Minister Achi,” he said. You remember all the meetings that took place to prepare for Laurent Gbagbo’s return. There has never been a break in the dialogue in our country and it will continue because this is the will of the government ”.
The government’s vote also reveals that the two men contacted each other informally earlier this month. What confirms Justin Katinan Koné, spokesman for Laurent Gbagbo, and specifies that the latter spoke with Alassane Ouattara after his stay in Kinshasa two weeks ago.
Justin Katinan Koné is very pleased with this meeting, which is moving towards calming the hearts of the country. “Our expectations are the same as the Ivorian people,” he says. That is, a true and definitive national reconciliation in the Ivory Coast.
.
