Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the political situation in the Ivory Coast following the election of President Alassane Ouattara.

The UK Government has noted the provisional election results published by the Independent Electoral Commission in Côte d'Ivoire. In his statement of 30 October ahead of the election, the Minister for Africa was concerned by the violence in the run up to elections and urged the Ivoirian authorities to ensure that all deaths and election-related violent incidents were properly investigated. In his statement on 5 November, the Minister for Africa condemned the violence and incendiary rhetoric during the electoral period in Côte d'Ivoire, and expressed his condolences to the families of those who died. The UK Government notes the varied voter participation around the country, whether through choice or disenfranchisement. The lack of consensus on the electoral process has divided communities, but creating parallel structures is not a resolution. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and abstain from declarations which may inflame the situation further. We encourage all parties to respect the constitutional order and democratic process and to re-establish a genuine political dialogue to resolve their differences.

The UK stands with the people of Côte d'Ivoire at this important moment, and reiterates its commitment to working with all stakeholders in a peaceful way. We continue to follow developments closely.