APA-Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) The women expressed their demands in motions in the presence of the Minister for Women, the Family and Children, Nasseneba Toure, on the occasion of International Diaspora Women’s Day.
Several women from the Ivorian diaspora were present at the event, which was celebrated at 240 East 123 Street in New York on Saturday 16 March 2024, under the auspices of the Consul General of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Inza Camara.
The motions expressed during the speeches by Line Dapka, Johanna Miles, Djéneba Diakite and Assetou Kone Djessi highlighted the deep desire of the Ivorian diaspora living in the United States to see Alassane Ouattara stand in the 2025 presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire.
The motivation behind this request from the women, who turned out in large numbers for the meeting, lies in the “impressive achievements” of the Ivorian president in terms of development and the promotion of gender equality in Côte d’Ivoire.
Ivorian women from New York and surrounding cities joined forces to urge President Alassane Ouattara to continue the remarkable development he has begun by running for a new presidential term.
Motions of thanks and congratulations were officially presented to the Ivorian head of state on the day, testifying to the admiration and unwavering support of the diaspora for President Ouattara’s leadership.
The motions read out by the women’s representatives highlighted President Alassane Ouattara’s “enlightened leadership” and his commitment to the Ivorian nation, which have paved the way for a promising future for all citizens.
They also highlighted a number of remarkable actions by President Alassane Ouattara, including the political and economic stability enjoyed by the country, with investment in infrastructure, education and health.
They also praised the president’s efforts to reconcile Ivorians and promote national unity, as well as the strengthening of relations with other states and international organisations, and the “effective diplomacy” that has enabled Côte d’Ivoire to make its voice heard on the international stage.
The women also spoke about the actions taken in the fight against corruption and injustice, and the promotion of women’s rights, with various measures taken in favour of girls’ education, the fight against gender-based violence and the increased representation of women in political bodies.
All the speakers concluded by expressing their unanimous support for the choice of President Alassane Ouattara as the candidate for the 2025 presidential election, citing the expected benefits in terms of local development and the promotion of women’s rights.
Minister Nasseneba Touré paid special tribute to the Consul General of Côte d’Ivoire in New York, Mr Inza Camara, for his dedicated commitment to improving the well-being of Ivorians in the United States.
Having taken due note of the recurrent calls for President Alassane Ouattara to run in the 2025 presidential elections, Minister Nasseneba Toure undertook to hand-deliver all the motions read to the head of state as soon as she returned to Abidjan.
Minister Nasseneba Touré called on women to believe in themselves, to unite, taking into account African cultural realities and relying on men who, more and more, are being introduced to positive masculinity, recalling the adage: “Alone we go fast, together we go far.”
The ceremony ended with a collective breaking of the fast by Muslims and Catholic Christians, symbolising the unity and solidarity within the Ivorian community living in the United States.
The meeting took place in the presence of the permanent representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations, Tiemoko Moriko, and representatives of the Senate, the National Assembly, CESEC and civil society, on a mission to New York as part of the 68th session of the Commission on Women (CSW).
Alassane Ouattara came to power in the 2010 presidential election and was re-elected in 2015 and 2020. Former president Laurent Gbagbo, who was ineligible because he was not on the electoral roll, agreed to stand as a candidate in 2025 at the call of his party, the PPA-CI.
AP/fss/as/APA