The head of French diplomacy Jean-Yves le Drian asked Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, re-elected for a controversial third term, to "
take initiatives
" to promote the return to civil peace and national unity on Friday, November 13.
Read also: Ivory Coast: Emmanuel Macron facing the specter of a great African caliphate
"
It is important, to avoid abuses and violence, that President Ouattara takes the necessary initiatives so that serenity returns and that national unity is at the rendezvous
", declared the minister on BFM and RMC.
"
I know he intends, I hope he does it quickly,
" he said.
Alassane Ouattara was re-elected for a third term after an election on October 31, boycotted by the opposition which denounces a constitutional coup, and in a climate of violence.
Since August 10, after the announcement of his candidacy, 85 people have been killed and 484 injured in political unrest which has often degenerated into inter-community clashes, according to official figures.
Several opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N'Guessan, his spokesperson, were arrested, while others were blocked at their homes by the police.
Read also: Ivory Coast: Alassane Ouattara's victory recognized in Africa, new violence
In an attempt at appeasement, Alassane Ouattara met his main opponent, former President Henri Konan Bédié, on Wednesday in Abidjan.
The two men “
broke the ice
” and promised to meet again to lower the tension and break the deadlock.
Paris had remained very silent since the announcement of Alassane Ouattara, 78, to run for a third term, going back on his initial commitment not to do so, greeted at the time by President Emmanuel Macron.
France, which "
took note
" of the election results, however this week called on the protagonists of the crisis to put an end to "
provocations and acts of intimidation
" and asked for the resumption of political dialogue.
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