• Ouattara Chairs Cabinet Meeting, Attends UNESCO’s Peace Award event
By Abiola Olawale
The Presidency of Côte d’Ivoire has dismissed rumours of a military coup and uncertainty surrounding President Alassane Ouattara’s whereabouts.
This is as the Presidency confirmed that the 83-year-old leader is in control of the country’s governance.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, the Cote d’Ivoire’s presidency disclosed that Ouattara chaired a Council of Ministers meeting in Abidjan’s presidential palace.
The statement revealed that the meeting focused on key priorities like energy diversification and affordable housing.
This comes after an emergency of reports that Ouattara’s whereabouts are unknown over a purported military takeover in Cote d’Ivoire.
The reports claimed that the President might have been ousted, killed, or fled.
However, the rumours have been debunked, with the Cote d’Ivoire’s presidency describing them as false and baseless.
Checks by New Diplomat also revealed that Ouattara attended a UNESCO event that was held in Abidjan on Thursday.
The event was held to honour the late president of Cote d’Ivoire Félix Houphouët-Boigny for winning the UNESCO Peace Research Prize.
The event was held at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan.
Established in 1989, this Prize honours individuals, institutions, or organizations that have made a significant contribution to the promotion, research, and maintenance of peace by UNESCO’s values and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
