20101206
africanews

Former president of South Africa, Thambo Mbeki, travelled to Ivory Coast to help mediate the nation's growing political crisis. Two contending presidential candidates had taken oath of office after disputed elections to become president.

Incumbent Laurent Gbagbo announced winner by the Constitutional Council took an oath on 4th December in the capital city, and his contender opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, who was announced leader by the country's electoral commission, also took an oath the same day.

The development effectively set up parallel governments and raised serious questions about who was actually in charge of Ivory Coast, which was split into two by a civil war eight years ago.

The international community has recognized opposition leader Ouattara as the winner of the presidential runoff vote held one week ago. That, however, did not stop incumbent Laurent Gbagbo from defying calls to concede. On Saturday, he wrapped himself in the Ivorian flag as he was sworn in for another term at the presidential palace.

Hours later, Ouattara told reporters that he too had been sworn into office and that his first act as president was reappointing Prime Minister Guillaume Soro. Soro, a former rebel leader who had served in a unity government with Gbagbo since 2007, said he was supporting Ouattara as president.

"These last days have been difficult but I can tell you now that Ivory Coast is in good hands," Ouattara said just hours after Gbagbo held his inauguration ceremony at the presidential palace.

At his swearing-in, Gbagbo renewed allegations that his supporters had been intimidated in the north, repeating the rationale used by the country's constitutional council to throw out a half million ballots that were cast in Ouattara strongholds.

"You think that you can cheat, stuff ballot boxes and intimidate voters and that the other side won't see what is going on," Gbagbo said.