Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, 83, was officially sworn in on Monday for his fourth term in office following elections from which his two major opponents were barred.
Ouattara secured re-election with nearly 90% of the vote in the October 25 poll, though voter turnout reached only 50.1%. The long-serving leader, who first assumed power after the tense and violent 2010 election crisis, pledged during his inauguration to “loyally defend the constitution.”
The ceremony drew high-level attendance from leaders of 11 African nations, alongside former presidents, including Niger’s Mahamadou Issoufou.
France Ivory Coast’s former colonial power sent Yael Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, to represent Paris.
The United States delegation was led by Jacob Helberg, the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, who is expected to meet with Ouattara later in the day.
Notably absent from the inauguration were Ouattara’s key political rivals.
Laurent Gbagbo was barred from running due to a criminal conviction, while Tidjane Thiam was excluded over nationality concerns. Neither attended the swearing-in ceremony.
