BY JIBRIL TURE

As President Alassane Ouattara was sworn in today for a third controversial term, the United States, in a statement, recognized the Ivorian president’s re-election. The statement, available on the Facebook page of the U.S. Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire, reads:

“The United States of America recognizes the re-election of H.E. Alassane Ouattara as President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and looks forward to continuing close bilateral cooperation across the full array of our shared values and interests.”

Mindful of the drama related to the president’s bid for a third term—indeed the loss of dozens of lives as as result of the opposition’s call for civil disobedience to protest the president’s third term—the United States, in the same statement, also says:

“It salutes and encourages all efforts aimed at promoting reconciliation, inclusion, broad political participation and universal respect for democratic norms regardless of political party affiliation within the framework of respect for the institution of the Republic and for human rights.”

Finally, the statement says:

“As Cote d’Ivoire moves forward, the United States remains committed to our decades-long partnership in support of a prosperous, stable and democratic future and deepening U.S.-Ivoirian connections.”

The statement is line with the role the United States is known for throughout the world, especially in the context of disputed elections. In the wake of the election-related violence in Cote d’Ivoire—which started months before the October 31 presidential election—and on the very day President Ouattara’s victory was certified —the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan that same day issued a statement urging Ivorians to “show commitment to democratic processes” (although at the same time Donald Trump was making false claims about election fraud.)

Twenty years ago this year, the United States Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire was conspicuously absent at the rushed swearing-in ceremony of Laurent Gbagbo, in a clear rejection of Gbagbo’s election as president following a presidential campaign from which all the country’s political parties—but Gbagbo’s insignificant Popular Ivorian Front—were excluded by then-strongman and interim president, Gen. Robert Guéï.