The UN has thrown its weight behind Alassane Ouattara in the scuffle for the Presidency of Côte d’Ivoire, .
On 7th December, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative Y. J. Choi briefed an extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the elections saying:
“Considering the distance Côte d’Ivoire has travelled, ignoring the will of the Ivorian people at this stage would be a let down of the people of Côte d’Ivoire and a waste of significant resources invested over the past eight years by the international community.”
Mr Choi’s election observation mission had certified Mr Ouattara as the winner in a Presidential run-off vote, but the Constitutional Council of Côte d’Ivoire nullified the results from four districts and declared the incumbent President, Laurent Gbagbo, as President for a further term. Mr Gbagbo promptly held an investiture ceremony and took the oath of office.
The Commission Electorale Indépendante held that the results were as follows:
- Mr Ouattara 54.1% of the vote
- Mr Gbagbo 45.9% of the vote
The election itself had already been delayed for five years and marked one of the final steps in restoring a divided and unstable country.
