The massive presence of key African Heads of State last Saturday in Yamoussoukro, the administrative and political capital of Côte d'Ivoire, the solemnity of the investiture of the country’s new President, Alassane Dramane Ouattara and above all, the effervescence that threaded through the mammoth population that answered present at the ceremony, were a veritable translation of the national and international feeling and recognition of Alassane Ouattara as the new President of one of West Africa’s major nations.
President Paul Biya and wife, Mrs Chantal Biya, actively took part in the installation ceremony within the realms of the historic ties that have bonded the two countries. President Biya, it should be recalled, was among the African Heads of State that sent a message of congratulation to the Ivorian leader immediately he was declared winner of the November 28, 2010 Presidential elections. His presence at the investiture concretised the spirit of the message and further cemented the cordial links existing between the two nations.
The plane transporting the Presidential couple touched down at the Yamoussoukro Airport at exactly 9:40 am. On hand to welcome them were the Ivorian Premier, Soro Kigbafory Guillaume, the Cameroon Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Alfred Nguini and other dignitaries. This was immediately followed by military honours, singing of the national anthems of the two countries, inspection of the guard of honour and greeting of the national constituted corps.
A heavy crowd of Cameroonians residing in Houphouet Boigny’s country and from other friendly nations were anxiously waiting to tender President Biya and his wife a befitting welcome. With songs of welcome as well as shouts of support, the population made up mostly of students, struggled to shake hands with the Presidential couple. The same anxiety prevailed hours after the investiture when the Presidential coupled returned to the airport for final departure back to Cameroon.
Solemnity, Moment of Reconciliation
The arrival of the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy at the Felix Houhpouet Boigny Foundation where the ceremony took place and that of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon was greeted with extreme joy and satisfaction from the population, considering the roles the two personalities played in shaping the country’s democracy. Equally present at the occasion were the Presidents of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore who played an important role as mediator in the process, Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, present Chairperson of the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS). The Heads of State of Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Togo, Congo Brazzavle, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Chad, Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Niger and Vice President of the Republic of South Africa equally came to witness the historic event.
The presence of all these Heads of State and other personalities further immortalised the ceremony. That notwithstanding, the hoisting of the flag by the young “intelligent” students of the Ivorian military school, pouring of libation by Yamoussoukro traditional chiefs telling President Ouattara not to forget tradition while handling the modern administration and the placing of a gold necklace by Henriette Diabate, Côte d'Ivoire’s Grand Chancellor,around his neck marked an important step in the investiture. But the long awaited moment was his speech, considered by many who were present, including foreigners as a speech of reconciliation, peace, development and reconstruction.
