Was the postponement of the Ivorian presidential election mentioned during the Macron-Ouattara meeting?

French President Emmanuel Macron receives his Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouattara at the Elysee Palace, September 4, 2020. Credit: @AOuattara_PRCI

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President Alassane Ouattara is back in Côte d'Ivoire after a stay in Niger to attend the ECOWAS summit.

Before that, he stayed in Paris where he was received by French President Emmanuel Macron.

During a face-to-face lunch last Friday, the two heads of state notably discussed the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire and the organization of the presidential election on October 31.

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On his return to Abidjan on Monday evening, Alassane Ouattara told the press his version of

his meeting with Emmanuel Macron

.

He explains that he " 

reassured

 " the French president after the violence that has taken place in recent weeks.

He indicates that " 

these disturbances are the result of manipulations and that measures are taken so that this does not happen again

 ".

And the Ivorian president insists: the elections will therefore take place as planned on October 31.

This declaration indeed comes a few hours after the publication by the weekly

Jeune Afrique

of an article affirming that Emmanuel Macron was concerned about the tensions in Côte d'Ivoire.

Still according to

Jeune Afrique,

the French president also asked Alassane Ouattara to postpone the presidential election in order " 

to allow him, as well as his main opponents Laurent Gbagbo and Henri Konan Bédié, to withdraw

 " after having organized

a dialogue

with them.

But Alassane Ouattara's entourage denies it.

" 

It is certain that the postponement of the election and the organization of a transition were not mentioned

 " protest executives of the RHDP.

For its part, the Elysee, does not confirm ... but does not deny either.

And speaks of a discussion " 

frank and transparent

 " between the two men.

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  • Ivory Coast

  • France

  • Alassane Ouattara

  • Emmanuel Macron

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