French President Emmanuel Macron and his counterpart Alassane Ouattara had lunch this Friday, September 04, 2020 at the Elysée Palace, several themes were discussed including the Ivorian presidential election in October 2020.
And it is the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara who sums up the report of this very politico-diplomatic tête-à-tête, particularly in its most sensitive and delicate point: the Ivorian presidential election on Saturday, October 31, 2020: “I had an excellent working lunch with my friend, President Macron. We were delighted with our converging views on the economic and political situation in Côte d’Ivoire, in particular the presidential election of October 31, 2020, in a climate of peace … “ he said.
The Ivorian Head of State Alassane Ouattara, candidate for his own succession for a very first presidential term of the brand new third Republic in Côte d’Ivoire, submitted on Monday, August 25, 2020, his application to the headquarters of the Commission Independent Electoral Officer (CEI) in Abidjan.
“This decision represents a real sacrifice for me and I assume it fully out of love for my country. With this decision, I also want to take the time to complete the preparation for the next generation,” Ouattara explained to justify his act which came only 48 hours after his inauguration by his party the RHDP at the packed Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium.
He also added: “I know how to count on all of my fellow citizens so that this election is appeased and that Ivorians can make their choice in peace, in peace, without violence. We will submit to the verdict of our fellow citizens. The citizens will remember our record which has been an exceptional record over the past 9 years (…). I have a vision of stability, security, peace and happiness for Ivorians “.
Alassane Ouattara had to reconsider his position not to run for a new mandate and to resolve to apply, in particular because of the death, of a heart disease on July 8, 2020, of his designated dolphin Amadou Gon Coulibaly while he This had already been invested on March 12 by his party the RHDP.
On August 6, the day before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the independence of Côte d’Ivoire, during his speech to the nation, Ouattara (78 years old), elected in 2010, then re-elected in 2015, had justified his decision to run for office. a new presidential mandate in a “concern to preserve peace, social cohesion”.
The official campaign for the presidential election of October 31, 2020 begins on October 15, 2020. But already the new candidacy of the outgoing president is contested by some opponents and part of civil society through violent demonstrations in certain localities of the country such as Divo (Center -West) and Bonoua (South).
For the moment, Côte d’Ivoire has 45 contenders for the presidential post among others: Alassane Ouattara (RDDP, in power), Henri Konan Bédié (PDCI RDA, opposition), Pascal Affi N’Guessan (FPI, opposition) Guillaume Soro (GPS, opposition), Laurent Gbagbo, Albert Mabri Toikeusse (UDPCI, opposition) Mamadou Koulibaly (Lider, opposition) and Marcel Amon Tanoh (without label for the moment).
The Constitutional Council has until September 15 to validate or invalidate the candidacies received by the CEI.
Reference: https://aip.ci/cote-divoire-aip-presidentielle-2020-ouattara-et-macron-dans-une-convergence-de-vue/
