Ivory Coast: the French ambassador recalled to Paris

The French Embassy in Abidjan, July 15, 2016. ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

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The French ambassador in Abidjan has been recalled to Paris.

Gilles Huberson left Côte d'Ivoire last week a few weeks before the presidential election, scheduled for October 31.

This reminder raises questions, but in France we are assured that it is not a political question, rather a private matter.

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Ambassador of France in Abidjan,

left Côte d'Ivoire last week, according to information from the

.

A departure which comes as the political situation is tense in Côte d'Ivoire as the presidential election on October 31 approaches.

A recall of an ambassador is rarely a trivial event between two countries, especially when one speaks of the French ambassador in

.

The recall can be a way of showing disagreement with the country where the diplomat is posted.

This can also be a sanction for the latter ... In the departure of Gilles Huberton, recalled to Paris, it seems neither one nor the other.

This departure is absolutely not linked to political reasons, according to Paris.

At the Elysee Palace it is explained that the recall of Gilles Huberson is an " 

 ", according to information collected by

.

This would be a private matter and has no connection with a possible misunderstanding between Presidents Macron and Ouattara.

A "

This reminder comes almost a month before the presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire and a few days after Alassane Ouattara's visit to Paris, while France accuses the Ivorian president between the lines of his desire to run for a third term.

During a lunch between the two heads of state, Emmanuel Macron said he was attached to stability in the country.

According to the

, the reminder of Gilles Huberson is a “

 ”

file 

dealt with directly by the cabinet of Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Our colleagues recall that it was the minister himself who weighed in 2017 so that Gilles Huberson was appointed to the post of ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire. 

The Quai d'Orsay is now looking for a diplomat capable of replacing Gilles Huberson as quickly as possible, before the presidential election at the end of October.

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