By RFIPalled on 07-08-2019Modified on 07-08-2019 at 03:26

In Ivory Coast, it's national holiday on Wednesday, August 7th. The country is celebrating the 59th anniversary of its independence. The festivities and the military parade take place this morning in the commune of Treichville in Abidjan. Yesterday, President Alassane Ouattara took the floor to address the citizens. But unlike the year before, it was not an address, but a long interview with a journalist. The head of state was able to express himself on all the topics that animate the country, including the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire, just over a year from the presidential election.

In Ivory Coast, it's national holiday on Wednesday, August 7th. The country is celebrating the 59th anniversary of its independence. The festivities and the military parade take place this morning in the commune of Treichville in Abidjan. Yesterday, President Alassane Ouattara took the floor to address the citizens. But unlike the year before, it was not an address, but a long interview with a journalist. The Head of State was able to express himself on all the subjects that animate the country, and in particular on the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire, just over a year from the presidential election.

In front of the journalist Brou Aka Pascal, President Alassane Ouattara appears alongside the Ivorian flags and the ECOWAS. The interview begins as an assessment of eight years of governance: unprecedented economic development, growth over 7%, infrastructure or even access to water and electricity in small towns and villages.

Then the tone goes up a notch when the subject of the Independent Electoral Commission, recently reformed, and challenged by the opposition, which has just seen his request for referral to the Constitutional Council rejected: " We are in a democracy, National Assembly has voted, the Senate has voted, there is no more discussion , slice the president in a hubbub.

Then comes the question of the meeting in Brussels, ten days ago, between the two other barons of Ivorian politics, the former presidents Henri Konan Bédié and Laurent Gbagbo :

" I am reconciled with President Bedie. With Laurent Gbagbo, I never had a problem in reality. But if now, Laurent Gbagbo and Henri Konan Bédié - I know what they think of each other - reconcile, it is a very good thing. "

President Alassane Ouattara reiterated that he would only decide next year if he ran for a third term . Clarifying that his soul and his conscience require him to favor the choice of the stability and security of his citizens.

→ Read also: Alassane Ouattara: "No way to prevent the candidacy of anyone"

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