Ivory Coast’s Ouattara sworn in for second presidential term

Ivory Coast’s Ouattara sworn in for second presidential term

Ivory Coast’s Ouattara sworn in for second presidential term

Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara was
sworn in Tuesday for a second five-year term
after winning re-election in the nation’s first
peaceful vote in more than a decade.
Senegal’s President Macky Sall, chief of
the ECOWAS regional bloc, and Benin’s
President Thomas Boni Yayi were among
top officials watching as Ouattara,
dressed in a dark suit, formally returned
to power at a ceremony in Abidjan.
“I solemnly swear to respect and loyally
defend the constitution, protect the
rights and freedoms of the citizens, to
conscientiously fulfil my duties in the
best interest of the nation,” said 73-year-
old Ouattara, his right hand raised.
“Let the people withdraw their trust and
may I submit to the rigour of the law if I
betray my oath.”
The former high-flying economist swept
to victory in elections on October 25,
cementing Ivory Coast’s return to
stability after years of turbulence.
Ouattara’s first presidential win in 2010
triggered several months of bloodshed in
which some 3,000 people died as his
predecessor, strongman leader Laurent
Gbagbo, refused to concede defeat.
Gbagbo was eventually defeated by pro-
Ouattara forces, backed by the UN and
France, and is now awaiting trial before
the International Criminal Court in The
Hague on charges of crimes against
humanity.
This election, in contrast, was praised by
observers as being generally smooth and
peaceful, with the country’s
Constitutional Council confirming
Monday that Ouattara scooped 83.66
percent of the vote.
He solidly beat main opposition
candidate Pascal Affi N’Guessan, who
took 9.29 percent of the vote.