Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara welcomed the United Nations Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, in Abidjan on Thursday for high-level discussions on regional stability, economic development, and collective security.
Following the meeting, Mr. Simão commended the Ivorian government for its strides in preparing for peaceful upcoming elections—an issue of growing significance in a region grappling with political unrest and security concerns.
“Elections are always a crucial moment in the life of a country,” said the UN envoy.
“Ivory Coast is on the right track to organise a peaceful vote.
The United Nations hopes it will continue to serve as an example to other nations, as Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal have recently done.”
Mr. Simão also praised the country’s economic performance under President Ouattara, highlighting visible improvements in citizens’ living standards as a direct outcome of national reforms.
While progress was acknowledged on multiple fronts, the Special Representative emphasised the urgency of regional cooperation to counter the persistent threat of terrorism in West Africa.
“It is essential that countries in the sub-region continue working together to find sustainable solutions to this scourge that affects us all,” Simão urged, stressing that unity remains the cornerstone of long-term peace.
He further reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting Ivory Coast in its security initiatives, particularly in establishing regional platforms aimed at counter-terrorism coordination and intelligence sharing.
The visit comes amid heightened international focus on security across the Sahel and West Africa, where extremist violence and political instability have tested the resilience of democratic institutions.
Ivory Coast’s stability and leadership are seen as crucial anchors in the region’s broader efforts to restore peace and prosperity.
Source: apanews
