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COTE D’IVOIRE / OUTTARA OATH
STORY: COTE D’IVOIRE / OUATTARA OATH
TRT: 2:16
SOURCE: ONUCI
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 6 MAY 2012, ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE
1. Wide shot, exterior Presidential palace
2. Wide shot, swearing-in ceremony
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Alassane Ouattara, President, Cote d’Ivoire:
“In the name of the sovereign people of Ivory Coast, I swear solemnly and on honour to respect constitution truthfully, to protect rights and freedom of the citizens to fill the duties of my load dutifully in the upper interest of the nation. That the people withdraw me his trust and that I am subjected to the rigour of laws, if I betray my solemn promise.”
4. Med shot, Ouattara taking a seat
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Yao Ndré, President, Constitution Court, Cote d’Ivoire:
“Mr. president of the republic, you will know how to find fair words of commiseration and forgiveness to the people of the Ivory Coast of errors made by all. Raise all those who are down, have in them a trust which is reciprocal for a new alliance in order to a social cohesion found for the lasting development of our country; development by all and for all.”
6. Wide shot, ex-Prime Minister Konan Bany
7. Wide shot, attendees leaving the palace
8. Wide shot, attendees congratulating President and First Lady
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Berena Gnakounde, Force Commander, United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI):
“We already work with the army of the Ivory Coast to reassure Abidjan and the rest of the coast of Ivory, to help the humanitarian agencies to bring assistance to the populations which were affected by war. Here, we are going to work together for investiture, for general elections. We work together with force of the Ivory Coast.”
10. Various shots, Ouattara meeting Ivorian army generals
President of Cote d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara took the oath of office last Friday (6 May) after almost five months of political impasse and crisis in the West African country following last year’s presidential elections.
In the presence of members of the government, representatives from the armed forces and political parties, Ouattara swore “to respect constitution truthfully, to protect rights and freedom of the citizens.”
In the last few months, nearly 500 people were confirmed dead and up to 1 million were displaced as a result of the post-election violence that was precipitated by ex-President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to step aside following his defeat to Alassane Ouattara in the UN-certified polls.
There are still reports of violence in some parts of the country. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that 68 bodies were found in ten graves by the human rights team of the UN Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (ONUCI) which went to the Youpogon neighborhood last Friday. This includes two mass graves -- one with 31 bodies, the other with 21.
President of the Constitution Court Yao Ndré, who had sworn in Gbagbo after rejecting UN-certified results, conducted the ceremony calling for “social cohesion” and “lasting development.”
Meanwhile, a sense of normalcy is returning in many parts of the country. In Bouaké schools have reopened after being closed for several weeks and banks reopened across last week after a ten-week shutdown.
The United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire is continuing to provide security in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the country, as well as regular medical assistance, including through ensuring the availability of potable water and installing sanitary facilities to help prevent disease outbreaks.
ONUCI’s Force Commander Berena Gnakounde, who was also present at the ceremony, said that peacekeepers are “already work with the army of the Ivory Coast to reassure Abidjan and the rest of the coast of Ivory” as well as to “help the humanitarian agencies to bring assistance to the populations which were affected by war.”
According to ONUCI, a UN assessment team is currently in the country to prepare the future role of the mission.
President Ouattara is expected to be formally inaugurated 21 May in the country's official capital, Yamoussoukro.
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