Alassane Ouattara was inaugurated yesterday as president of Ivory Coast, which he hopes to reunite following a bloody crisis caused by his predecessor’s refusal to concede election defeat.
“The time has come to renew the founding values of our beautiful Ivory Coast, and to reunite Ivorians,” he said at a ceremony attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President Nicolas Sarkozy of former colonial power France and African leaders.
“Let us celebrate peace, without which there can be no development,” said Ouattara, 69, who took the oath of office on May 6 – about four weeks after Laurent Gbagbo was captured for refusing to cede power following November elections.
The new president launched an appeal for the emergence of “a new Ivorian”, as the country “reconciles and reunites”.
A months-long conflict had pitted Ouattara against Gbagbo, who refused to leave office after his rival was declared the winner of November’s presidential poll.
Nearly 3,000 people died in the violence that followed the vote, according to the new government, and tens of thousands fled into neighbouring countries.
Gbagbo was captured in an underground bunker in Abidjan on April 11 by forces loyal to Ouattara, backed by France and the UN.
“This day is an historic moment for us,” said Ouattara, hailing what he called “the victory of democracy”.
“It is a success for the Ivory Coast and for Africa as a whole,” he said.
African Union and UN Security Council envoys in Addis Ababa hailed Ouattara’s inauguration.
“Security Council membersand members of the AU Peaceand Security Council praised the inauguration of President Ouattara,” a statement said, calling for “vigilance, coordination and sustained commitment in the stabilisation and consolidation of peace”.
In handing out thanks, Ouattara singled out France, “with whom the Ivory Coast shares historic ties and a common vision of the future”.
“Mr President Sarkozy, the Ivorian people thank you,” Ouattara said to loud applause, also thanking the UN.
Later in Abidjan Sarkozy told French troops that Ouattara said he intended forming a “unity government”, and promised there would be parliamentary elections before the end of the year.
Thousands of people sangand danced in a festive atmosphere around the site of theceremony at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Foundation, named for the Ivory Coast’s founding president in whose cabinet Ouattara had been prime minister.