Two presidents - Ivory Coast

After four months of a political crisis, the confrontation between the internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara and the outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo almost led the Côte d’Ivoire and Abidjan to civil war. On April, 11th 2011, the fallen president was arrested in his house by Alassane Ouattara’s supporters. Facing a fierce opposition from the FANCI (National Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire) supporting Laurent Gbagbo, the Republican Forces had to fight during two weeks in the economic capital before the former president and his last loyal soldiers were finally arrested. Nevertheless, the new president Alassane Ouattara has another fight lying ahead of him: pacify a country ravaged by decades of a latent conflict. He will have to establish the conditions of a national reconciliation, and will not be able to rule without it.