ALASSANE Ouattara has been inaugurated as the president of Ivory Coast in the capital, Yamoussoukro, after months of violence and political turmoil.

The ceremony was attended by many African heads of state, as well as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

 Ouattara thanked the international community for its support and said the will of the people had triumphed.

He said the day represented a “historic moment” for the people of Ivory Coast.

He said: “This day is, for all Ivorians, the start of an era that marks our common will to write a new page in the history of our country. The grave crisis that Ivory Coast went through… is now behind us.

“This has been achieved by the victory of democracy, in other words respecting democracy and the will of the Ivorian people.”

President Ouattara won the November presidential election but was prevented from taking office after incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to give up power.

The ceremony, according to the BBC, was designed to reinforce President Ouattara’s legitimacy as president after a violent power struggle with Mr Gbagbo, and to symbolise the beginning of a reconciliation process regarded as key to the country’s recovery.

President Ouattara is keenly aware that he won only a little more than half the vote, and the presidential stand-off reignited festering ethnic tensions, with human rights groups accusing both sides of killings, rape and other crimes.

 Ouattara, who took the oath of office two weeks ago, has promised to promote reconciliation in the country.

-Guardian

Posted by admin on May 23 2011. Filed under Africa & World Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry