Welcoming the end of the illegitimate rule of Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo, the US President, Mr Barack Obama, has appealed to the new leader, Mr Alassane Ouattara, to govern on behalf of all people.

“For President Ouattara and the people of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the hard work of reconciliation and rebuilding must begin now. President Ouattara will need to govern on behalf of all the people of Cote d’Ivoire, including those who did not vote for him,” Mr Obama said in a statement, after Mr Gbagbo was arrested by the Opposition forces thus bringing an end to his rule.

After being defeated in an election by Mr Ouattara about four months ago, Mr Gbagbo refused to leave his presidency.

“In the four months that have passed since Alassane Ouattara was elected President, the United States and international community have strongly supported the results of Cote d’Ivoire’s democratic election, and the right of the Ivoirian people to determine their own destiny,” Mr Obama said.

“These results came after several years of support by the international community for Cote d’Ivoire’s peace and democratic processes,” he said.

The UN Security Council, members of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have worked to advance the goal of a democratic Ivory Coast in which the rule of the people is stronger than the rule of one man, the President said.

He also commended the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire and French forces for the actions taken to protect civilians.

Welcoming the decisive turn of events in Ivory Coast, as former President Gbagbo’s illegitimate claim to power has finally come to an end, Mr Obama said this represents a victory for the democratic will of the Ivoirian people, who have suffered for far too long through the instability that followed their election.

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