In his first televised interview since the current post-electoral crisis broke out in Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara told FRANCE 24 on Wednesday that his presidential rival Laurent Gbagbo must cede power and if he did so, Ouattara would not force the Ivorian strongman into exile.

Furthermore, while Gbagbo has repeatedly warned that international military intervention in Ivory Coast could destabilise the region, Ouattara dismissed these fears.

“Military intervention does not mean that the Ivory Coast will ignite,” said Ouattara, before adding: “All that needs to be done, as has been done in other African countries, is to come and get Gbagbo and remove him from the presidential palace.”

Speaking to FRANCE 24 from the Golf Hotel, a lagoon-side resort in the main Ivorian city of Abidjan that has become his government’s headquarters, Ouattara underlined however that he preferred a peaceful solution to the crisis. Ouattara also dismissed any suggestion of trying to negotiate a power sharing deal with Gbagbo, maintaining that the incumbent’s recent negotiation offers were simply gimmicks to buy time.

“Laurent Gbagbo is trying to win time to recruit mercenaries and transfer suitcases full of money out of the country,” said Ouattara.