Emmanuel Macron congratulated Alassane Ouattara on his re-election as head of Côte d’Ivoire on 31 October following a highly controversial vote that led to violence across the country. The French head of state sent an official letter to his counterpart this week, calling for dialogue in the country.
In this letter dated November 11, the authenticity of which was confirmed by the Elysee, we first read a traditional congratulatory formula and “wishes for success” were sent to Alassane Ouattara and “to the Ivorian people”.
The French president then addressed the tense situation in the country and encouraged the discussions that began this week: “the dialogue you initiated with President Bédié is a bearer of hope “, he writes,” I hope that this first step towards unity and openness can lay the concrete foundation for a broader and more lasting reconciliation “.
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Already this week, the Élysée had qualified the call for dialogue launched by the re-elected president as an “essential gesture”, and wished it to be open to all political forces and lamented the arrest of opponents after the election.
The last point of this letter, before Emmanuel Macron concludes France’s support for “close partnership” and “old friendship” between the two countries, reiterates its counterpart’s “confidence” in “giving the new generations their rightful place” on the Ivory Coast.
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