Laurent Gbagbo returned to Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday 17 June after a ten-year absence. A historic day, but also chaotic marked by clashes between young supporters and the police. And if the unrest lasted until late in the evening, the situation recovered on Friday.
From our special correspondent in Abidjan,
No more traces of clashes the day before in the city of Abidjan. After such a historic day as it was chaotic, everyday life resumed its course. Motorists have found traffic jams that are characteristic of economic capital. Only the headlines on the streets evoke the event.
In front of Laurent Gbagbo’s head office, Attoban,the amount of eveninghas completely disappeared. The street is invaded with rubbish, as are the surrounding arteries where supporters of the former head of state remained stranded for part of the evening. In the building that will be Laurent Gbagbo’s office, there are only a few young people who slept there and could not return home. “We put boxes for them,” explains one guard.
A few minutes by car from there is also the dead calm in front of the former president’s new residence. The large building, newly painted, shows no signs of activity and we do not even distinguish any safety device. On the other hand, as soon as our vehicle stops, an ordinary safety member in charge of security will exchange a few words and note down the identities. The man explains that he was already in the president’s service ten years ago, and that is why it is with emotion that he found his former boss on Thursday. “The president returned at 10 pm and there is still rest.”
“This is Barack Obama from the Ivory Coast”
Another, but still in Cocody, the students are going. This Thursday, the situation generally remained fairly calm on the Félix Houphouët-Boigny campus, but a large number of students explain that they have followed the event. If some do not want to talk and say that they are not interested in politics, those who speak arouse their feelings. “I watched the return to television, it was satisfaction. I was glad he came back, that’s the most important thing. We were waiting for his son to come back. From now on, it’s up to him to decide what he wants to do,” he said. the student.
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Brice, he is convinced that this return will bring change: “When we talk about leadership, we think of our people. This man, he has a vision for the Ivory Coast, but also for the whole of Africa. He’s Barack Obama from the Ivory Coast. I was happy when I knew he was fine at the airport. ”
Images that also marked Annabelle for which they will remain engraved for a long time. “He came back as he was, as simple as before,” she says. “When we saw him greet people, he did it with his fist as we do. Can you imagine? A president usually does not.”
At one point, the peace is disturbed by a group of young people from FESCI (Student and School Association in Ivory Coast), a historic student union, quite close to the former president and known for his sometimes violent actions. They walk singing, and even though they are only a few dozen, this procession remains striking, as an impression that Laurent Gbagbo’s return has galvanized them.
Relive Laurent Gbagbo’s return to the Ivory Coast
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