BY CORINE SOUZA

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term, on the theory that the country’s new constitution adopted in 2016 allows him to, has triggered a wave of protests initiated by members of the opposition whose followers have clashed with pro-Ouattara’s followers for two weeks on the streets across the nation. According to official sources, those clashes have resulted so far in five deaths, 104 wounded and dozens of arrests. But the massive pro-Ouattara march held today, Saturday in Paris, was all peaceful and drew massive crowds.

The vast sea of marchers wearing orange t-shirst and caps—one of the three colors of the Ivorian flag—seems endless. The pro-Ouattara crowd, estimated at more than 30,000 by the organizers—took to the streets to show their support for the outgoing president. Looking closely, one could see President Ouattara’s effigy on the t-shirts and other outfits, with the crystal message that the march is in support of the “president’s first run under the third Ivorian republic” ushered in by the new constitution.

Defying the safety measures of the pandemic—though most were wearing a mask—the marchers went from the historical landmark Place de la Bastille to a no-less important landmark, Place de la République.

The main architect of the event was Laciné Diaby, deputy executive director responsible for overseas militants of President Ouattara’s party, the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace. But Diaby got much needed help from many in the Ivorian diaspora in France, including Gouza Nahounou, an Ivorian political activist and long-time commentator for The African Magazine.

In an interview with The African, Nahounou made it clear “President Ouattara is running under the third Republic, not the second one.” She added that “the third republic was voted for by [former President] Bédié, and [former prime minister] Soro.” The former is running against President Ouattara in the upcoming October 31 election, and the latter, who also announced his intention to run, has been disqualified due to an international warrant against him for attempt to destabilize the state and embezzlement of public funds.

It’s no secret both Bédié and Soro, once staunch political allies of President Ouattara, are behind the anti-Ouattara protests on the streets of Cote d’Ivoire.