Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Abidjan, March 17, 2016. SIA KAMBOU / AFP
A few days before the presidential election held on Saturday, October 25, in Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara called Nicolas Sarkozy. For once, it was not to discuss Ivorian politics, the fourth term he was poised to win at the age of 83 (his victory was announced on Monday) or to talk about the situation in France. President Ouattara wanted to support the former French president, "his great friend," just before Sarkozy entered La Santé prison in Paris on October 21, following his conviction in the case involving Libyan funding for his 2007 campaign.
Outtara's wife, the French-born Dominique Ouattara, called Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. The Ivorian presidential couple "believes you cannot treat a former head of state as if he were just any ordinary citizen," said a member of their inner circle.
The friendship between Ouattara and Sarkozy proved decisive for the former's political career and has fueled suspicions of collusion between Paris and Abidjan for the past 15 years. Since Ouattara came to power in 2011, despite changes at the top of the French state, Ivorian opposition figures have accused him of being in thrall to the former colonial power, which sees him as its last reliable partner in West Africa.
