President Alassane Ouattara took the oath of office on Monday for a fourth term at the helm of Ivory Coast, following a controversial election that saw his two primary rivals barred from participating.
At 83 years old, Ouattara secured nearly 90 percent of the votes in the October 25 election, although voter turnout was relatively modest at 50.1% in the West African nation.
During his inauguration, the president, who has been in power since a tumultuous election in 2010, pledged to “faithfully uphold the constitution.”
As he approaches his 84th birthday in January, the seasoned politician expressed his commitment to making this fourth term one of “generational transition.”
The inauguration ceremony, held at the presidential palace in the economic hub of Abidjan, was attended by leaders from 11 African nations, alongside former heads of state such as Niger’s Mahamadou Issoufou.
France, the former colonial power with strong ties to Ivory Coast, was represented by National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet.
The United States sent Jacob Helberg, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, who was scheduled to meet with Ouattara later in the day.
Ouattara’s main challengers, Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, did not participate in the election—Gbagbo due to a criminal conviction and Thiam over issues related to his nationality.
