Luanda: Angolan President Joo Louren§o returned to the country Monday after witnessing the inauguration ceremony of Alassane Ouattara for his fourth term as Head of State of C´te d'Ivoire. Upon arrival, the Statesman received greetings from the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperan§a da Costa, and other senior entities in the country.
According to Angola Press News Agency, in Abdjam, the Angolan Head of State was among the guests of honor, at the ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, in his dual capacity as Angolan Head of State and Chairperson of the African Union. The inauguration ceremony of the new Ivorian President took place under strong security measures, with the presence of several African Heads of State and representatives of international organizations.
At the inauguration of the fifth President of C´te d'Ivoire, since the country's independence on August 7, 1960, there were also his counterparts from Senegal, Baciro Diomaye Faye, from Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, from Congo, Denis Sasou Nguesso, and from Comoros, Assoumani Azani. The ceremony was also attended by the Presidents of Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema, of Liberia, Josefh Boaki, of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, as well as the Head of State of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Joseph Boaki.
Among the former Heads of State, highlights include Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, from Nigeria, Nana Akufo-Addo, from Ghana, and Mohamadou Issoufou from Niger. The USA was represented by the North American Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, Jacob Elberg, while France (former colonizing power) sent the President of Parliament, Yael Braun-Pivet. The UN Secretary General also sent a representative to the ceremony.
