Allassane Outtara has stunned his critics after announcing his intentions not to run for third term as the president of Ivory Coast.
The President was quoted to have said that, “Stop me if you have heard this one before: an African politician comes to power, like his time in office and changes the constitution to run again.”
The 78 year old president announced this even when a recent constitution has been modified and permitted him that possibility.
His announcement was met with gasps from the politicians who gathered to hear him speak in Yamoussoukro, the country’s capital and louder sounds from the vicinity of the presidential palace in neighboring Guinea.
According to a source, a Guinean minister phoned an Ivorian counterpart just after Mr. Outtara made his announcement, expressing his dismay on the likely impact it might have on Guinean president’s attempt to remain in office in Guinea.
