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Ivory Coast: Ivorians on Twitter React to the Address by Alassane Ouattara

Categories: Sub-Saharan Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Citizen Media, Digital Activism, Elections, Human Rights, Politics, War & Conflict

After several difficult months and the advance of the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast (FRCI),  the Forces stopped at the doors of the presidential palace still occupied by Laurent Gbagbo [1], who is taking refuge in a bunker accompanied by family members.

Thursday evening, President Alassane Ouattara addressed his fellow citizens.   @YHMalak [2] provided us with a link to the text of the address [3] [fr].

@celine_lussato [4] is amazed that reactions are almost totally unanimous [5]:

Either #Ouattara [6] has given an extraordinary reconciliatory address, or he has reported all his adversaries as ‘spam'!

Twitter users especially have learned a lot from the address:

@Lord225 [7] SEM Alassane: My fellow countrymen, whether you are Muslim or Christian, whether you voted for me or not…

@kanazan [8] ADO provides a brief history of the situation over the past 4 months #civ2010 [9], ballot block mediation panel etc.

@kanazan [8] ADO congratulates the FRCI for bringing about domestic peace.

@kanazan [8] ADO is announcing measures to compensate people who have been looted.

@SenamBeheton [10] Ouattara stresses the country's continuity.  Banking, cocoa, security, economy etc.

@Lord225 [7] SEM Alassane:  I ask all Ivorians not to indulge in any type of revenge.

@nightsnake1975 [11] is amazed:

Finally, someone who speaks of penalties for every misdemeanour?  When did Gbagbo do that?

@Lord225 [7] continues:

SEM Alassane:  A blockade was set up around the residence of the outgoing president to increase the security of the surrounding population.

@El_Fredo [12] comments:

Well, apparently its game over for Gbagbo, his bunker will end up like Fort Chabrol [13].

@Gare_au_gorille [14] stresses and recommends:

Forget the RDB (République du Bunker) and build an RCI, united and fraternal.

@Lionelmarc [15] agrees:

I say that's exactly it, Gbagbo can just stay in #gbagboland [16] with his gbagbotians if he wants.  When he's tired he'll come out.

@MaryMary225 [17] concludes:

Well, there you go!  Gbagbo blocked ADO in the hotel, now it's ADO who is blocking Gbagbo in his cellar.

@sixtem63 [18] stresses:

The Gbagbo chapter is closed, we don't need to talk about him any more on this thread!  We can begin by finding him a nickname for the thread!

@ALISOUM [19] goes back over what seems the most important thing, that is:

Ouattara to the FRCI:  “Every act of violence will be punished”.

@nightsnake1975 [11] repeats his comparison of the two men:

OUATTARA > Every act of violence will be punished;  GBAGBO > You don't cry over the one who is helping you.  Actually, it's not the same thing.

Now politics is reclaiming its rights, Christian_peace [20] teases:

Let's wait and see if the supreme LMPists accept the salary that ADO is soon going to transfer into their accounts.

@FreshleySnipez [21] follows with:

If any of them are really angry, they shouldn't go and pick up their salaries tomorrow.  We'll wait and see.  It's neo-colonial money kiakiak.

But comforting messages were quickly back again,  sixtem63 [18] :

Think about getting some news about your neighbours.  There are urgent needs.  The thread #civsocial is there for this purpose.

@sroukoudazoa [22] :

LMP, play fair.  To better prepare for the elections of tomorrow, it's important to accept today's defeat and learn a lesson from it.

And the Twittos list all they can do again, ALISOUM [19]

Now, all Ivorians can go to work and give back to Ivory Coast its place in the world.  #CIV2010 [23]

@nnenna [24]

Open the banks.  Pay people's salaries, let us drive, bring back our cars, water, electricity and gas.  LET US LIVE.

@teekenb [25] :

At the end of the month I'm taking my things back to Abidjan.

@Swat_twit [26] :

Monday, I'll be in the office.

@kanazan [8] :

A news bulletin without swearing, without resorting to hatred, without threats, without miracles in the palm nut sauce. [27]

And continues:

Soon, people will be able to put their real name and real photos on this thread.  #civ2010 [9] Enough clandestine behaviour.

@nightsnake1975 [11] wants to pass on an important message:

RT PLEASE ->  Call to soldiers wounded in the scrub or hidden, to let someone know so they can be cared for.  All they did was obey.

@kanazan [8] asks a basic question:

The Golf Hotel received fresh supplies by chopper;  how will the bunker be supplied?

And laughs at the response from @MaryMary225 [17] :

The bunker will get supplies from the gutter, kiakiakia.  That's twice you've killed me.

The Twittos conclude @myGMX [28] about Laurent Gbagbo:

The film has ended.  The bandit has retreated to his cave.

On the address by Alassane Ouattara,  frigolo59 [29] :

Rallying speech, responsible, standing for what the RCI must become again, “Let's go forward” dear brothers and sisters!

Others:

@itsme_leclerc [30] Ivorians, you are living in historic times.

@baoulet [31] PROUD TO BE IVORIAN.

@teekenb [25] stresses the importance of #civ2010 [9]

Alassane Dramane Ouattara is the strategist – but I'm sure that his advisers have followed the thread #civ2010 [9] to pinch the IDEAS HERE.

And obviously the Coast wouldn't be Ivory without a bit of humour, @nnenna [24] :

ALERT:  A new word has arrived in the #IvoryCoast [32] saga:  The Republic of  “Bunkerkistan”.

And we'll finish with @SplinterCeII [33] who talks of reconciliation:

…  #civamour [34] has been created!  Let's promote this thread so everyone can be reconciled here!