President Ouattara Reaffirms Commitment to Peace and Hope for Côte d'Ivoire in the New Year
President Alassane Ouattara reiterated his commitment to continuing efforts to provide the people of Côte d'Ivoire with a haven of peace, hope, and optimism during a New Year reception held on January 9, 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan-Plateau. The President received New Year's greetings from the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and the institutions of the Republic and the judiciary authorities.
"We will continue our efforts to offer the Ivorian people, as well as all those living in Côte d'Ivoire, a haven of peace, full of hope and optimism," assured the Head of State.
Celebrating the significant progress made by Côte d'Ivoire despite a challenging international context, President Ouattara highlighted the government's initiatives, including the Electricity for All, Water for All, Social Safety Nets, and Universal Health Coverage (CMU) programs, which have improved the living conditions of the population.
On the security front, the President noted improvements nationwide, with a reduction in incidents and no terrorist attacks since March 2020. "This satisfactory result is a tangible outcome of the numerous security operations regularly carried out by the defense and security forces," he emphasized.
Regarding the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025, President Ouattara assured the diplomatic community that the election will be "peaceful, democratic, and transparent."
President Ouattara also paid tribute to the diplomatic corps and the Republic's institutions for their strong involvement in promoting a peaceful sociopolitical environment, ensuring the smooth functioning of institutions, and supporting the country's development.
In response, the Apostolic Nuncio to Côte d'Ivoire, Archbishop Mauricio Rueda Beltz, dean of the diplomatic corps, and Marcelle Kouassi, a senior magistrate and spokesperson for the institutions of the Republic and the judiciary, both praised President Ouattara's leadership. They emphasized that this leadership has helped Côte d'Ivoire shine diplomatically and athletically, particularly with the successful hosting of several regional and international events, including the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which showcased the country's effectiveness, organization, unity, stability, and progress on the global stage.
They also praised the country's economic growth and the recent major discoveries of gas, oil, bauxite, gold, and coltan.
In the social domain, they expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made in combating high living costs, corruption, money laundering, and child labor. These initiatives, they noted, inspire "faith in better days ahead," according to Marcelle Kouassi.
While reaffirming their "hope for free, inclusive, transparent, and non-violent elections," the members of the diplomatic corps, through Archbishop Mauricio Rueda Beltz, assured President Ouattara of their continued support for the country's efforts to remain "a land of hope." They also wished for Côte d'Ivoire to continue its path of peace, unity, and prosperity.