Cote d’Ivoire marked 66 years of independence on Friday with a military parade in Abidjan, led by President Alassane Ouattara and attended by senior officials, political figures and foreign delegations.
Footage shows Ouattara arriving in an open military vehicle as military bands, troops and vehicles take part in a display of the country’s armed forces.
“We want to ask all Ivorians to continue, to continue to work, to work towards strengthening peace and cohesion, and that will lead us without any difficulty towards the great Cote d’Ivoire,” said Kandia Camara, President of the Ivorian Senate.
The celebrations brought together political rivals after Ouattara called on opposition parties to join the national festivities.
“Today we speak unity, today we speak nation <…> all the political parties were here, and that’s important for the image of our country,” said Charles Ble Goude, leader of the Congress for Pan-African Justice and Equality of Peoples.
Cote d’Ivoire gained independence from France on 7 August 1960. The anniversary comes as the country strengthens security along its northern frontier amid militant threats from the Sahel.
Source: Viory
