The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Tuesday, 3 November 2015, participated in the swearing–in ceremony of the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, at the presidential palace.

Speaking after the ceremony, the Special Representative seized the occasion to congratulate the people and Government of Côte d'Ivoire on the good conduct of the presidential election. Mrs Mindaoudou expressed the hope that one day Côte d'Ivoire will be among countries that are good examples of the democratic process. She also said that she wished for the next elections to take place in the same spirit.



She congratulated the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on the good organisation of the election despite a few problems which she hoped would be resolved before the next elections.



Returning to the role of civil society, Mrs Mindaoudou said that its « massive involvement in this election had resulted in greater transparency and credibility of the polls ».



The Special Representative also welcomed the republican spirit of the presidential candidates. « Democracy can only be consolidated when all the political actors have the same republican spirit, and undeniably the posture and attitude of the presidential election candidates here in Côte d'Ivoire, especially that of those who signed the code of conduct, and those who effectively took part in the presidential election, were republican in nature and I would like to welcome this because it greatly contributed to the success of the presidential election», she declared.



Responding to a question from the media on the United Nations accompaniment of the national reconciliation process, Mrs Mindaoudou recalled that one of aspects of the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) was to accompany Ivorians in strengthening national reconciliation and that « the United Nations will continue its work in this regard», she said.



« This presidential election consecrates the return to peace and stability in Côte d'Ivoire and I would like to reiterate the fact the United Nations remains ready and willing to cooperate even better with Côte d'Ivoire in strengthening peace and stability».