Ivory Coast: Ouattara-Gabgbo towards a more symbolic than political meeting
Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara.
AFP / Issouf Sanogo / Kambou Sia
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3 min
Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara are due to meet at the presidency on Tuesday, July 27, according to the date announced by the Ivorian government at the end of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.
It has not yet been confirmed by the camp of its predecessor.
Contact is therefore finally reconnected between the two men.
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It is Laurent Gbagbo who is said to be at the origin of the telephone discussion which took place two weeks ago, a few days after his trip to Kinshasa. This is the first time the two have spoken to each other since the 2010-2011 crisis.
Alassane Ouattara was annoyed not to receive a call from his predecessor before his return to Côte d'Ivoire, despite contacts between their respective circles. The presidency would not have appreciated the behavior of Laurent Gbagbo since June 17 either: the fact that the former president did not stop at the presidential pavilion made available to him at the airport, his statements to France 24 on the 2010 crisis - he described himself as a "
troublesome man
" that had to be "
dismissed
" - or when, visiting Henri Konan Bédié, he strongly criticized Alassane Ouattara's third term.
In Laurent Gbagbo's entourage, it is assured that
this announced meeting
is a sign of respect for "
African values
" which want the youngest to pay a courtesy visit to his elder and that one should not expect a political content outside of it. of the obvious symbolic significance of this meeting.
While opponents FPI-GOR and PDCI demand a national dialogue, while religious leaders publicly urge leaders to protect peace in Côte d'Ivoire after tense exchanges through the media, the authorities have therefore provided their response ...
First, the dialogue has never been broken off, discussions have always taken place at the level of the prime minister, insisted the government spokesman on Wednesday, just after announcing in the bend of a response to the press this meeting at the date of July 27.
The day before, Alassane Ouattara had stressed for the tabaski the importance of strengthening social cohesion and reconciliation.
As for the FPI-GOR, we are waiting to meet around Laurent Gbagbo before officially commenting on what we qualify as a “
government announcement
”.
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Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara
Laurent Gbagbo