Ivory Coast: Embalo invited to Yamoussoukro, a sign of reconciliation between Abidjan and Bissau
Friction between the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, and his Ivorian counterpart seem far away.
© AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN
Text by: RFI Follow
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Côte d'Ivoire commemorates the 62nd anniversary of its independence this Sunday.
Like every year, President Alassane Ouattara will address the nation this Saturday evening.
But the ceremonies will take place on Sunday in Yamoussoukro with a large military parade, in the presence of the Head of State and his predecessors Henri Konan Bédié and Laurent Gbagbo.
Special guest this year, Bissau-Guinean Umaro Sissoco Emballo, current president of ECOWAS.
The friction of recent months between the Bissau-Guinean and Ivorian heads of state seems to be ancient history
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Forgotten the severe criticism of Umaro Sissoco Emballo on the third mandates.
Forgotten the quarrel on a possible extension of the mandate of Nana Akuffo Addo by six months at the head of ECOWAS envisaged for a time by Alassane Ouattara but abandoned.
Bissau and Abidjan have been working for several months to renew ties.
In May, the newly appointed Ivorian vice-president, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné,
made the trip to Bissau
.
A month later, Air-Côte d'Ivoire inaugurated its Abidjan-Bissau route.
And this Thursday, Alassane Ouattara officially
thanked the current president
for his solidarity and his involvement in the release of the 49 Ivorian soldiers detained for a month in Mali.
“
Embalo is very active on this file as president of ECOWAS.
He is uninhibited.
He can broach subjects with the junta that even Faure Gnassimbé does not broach,
” commented a West African diplomat, well versed in the mysteries of power in the region.
“
Embalo is unpredictable.
He sometimes irritates because of his outspokenness but I'm not sure the quarrel was serious
, ”he adds.
In the entourage of the Ivorian president, it is assured that there is “
no problem, no conflict
” as the press has been able to echo.
The current president of ECOWAS will not be the only foreign distinguished guest in Yamoussoukro on Sunday.
The president of neighboring Liberia,
George Weah
is also announced.
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Ivory Coast
Guinea-Bissau