In video-taped remarks, President Obama sent an important and very clear message today to President Alassane Ouattara, Laurent Gbagbo, and the people of Cote d’Ivoire:  the United States recognizes President Ouattara as the rightful leader of Cote d’Ivoire and calls on Laurent Gbagbo to step aside in the best interests of the country and its people.  Cote d’Ivoire should—and can—be one of Africa’s success stories, with a thriving economy, a rich history, and a vibrant democracy.

President Obama has been focused on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire for some time.  During his town hall with young African leaders at the White House last August, he spoke with a young Ivoirian participant and said that “Africa’s future also belongs to societies that protect the rights of all its people, especially its women."  He declared that “the United States of America will stand with you as you seek justice and progress and human rights and dignity of all people.”  That statement is even more important today as the violence against unarmed civilians has increased, raising fears that the country could descend into civil war.  President Obama has strongly condemned the continuing acts of violence against unarmed civilians, particularly women, and calls on all leaders to reject violence.

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Ecowas Calls for UN Action on Cote d'Ivoire

• 'Close to Civil War' in Abidjan - French Envoy
• Up to 1 Million People Driven From Homes by Violence, UN Reports
• Resolution to be Tabled at UN on Use of Force
• Ecowas Urges UN to Remove Gbagbo by Force
• Open Letter to the UN Security Council on the Situation in Côte d'Ivoire
• Hundreds of Lives Lost Amidst Slow International Response
• Ecowas Condemns Rhetoric Against Regional Citizens in Cote d'Ivoire
• Resolution of the Authority of Ecowas on the Situation in Cote d'Ivoire
• Ecowas Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the Authority - Final Communique
• Death Toll From Post-Electoral Violence Rising, UN Reports
• Gbagbo Orders Power Cuts in North, Says Company
• U.S. Wants Peaceful Resolution of Crisis, Says Official
• UN Allocates U.S.$10 Million for Emergency Needs
• Refugee Crisis Needs World's Attention, Says Oxfam
• Thousands Flee Abidjan As Violence Intensifies
• Women Brave Gunfire, Curfews to Feed Capital
• 'Everyone Was Running'
• Nationals Fleeing Violence, Aided by International Organizations to Return Home
• New Fighting Hampers UN Efforts to Aid Thousands Displaced
• Crisis Pummels Health, Rights, Livelihoods, UN Says
• Violence in West Threatens Increasingly Vulnerable
• President Obama's Message to the People

New Ecowas Chair Commits to Peace

• Ecowas to Promote Regional Peace and Security
• Ouattara Is New Ecowas Chairman
• President Ouattara Named Ecowas Chairman
• ECOWAS Commission Gets New President
• President Ouattara Is New ECOWAS Chairman
• ECOWAS Unity a Must for Integration - -Jonathan
• Ecowas Holds 40th Ordinary Session With President Sirleaf in Attendance
• Jonathan Wants Ecowas Objectives Protected
• Welcome Address By President Jonathan At the 40th Ordinary Session of Ecowas
• President Jonathan's Speech At the Opening of Ecowas Summit in Abuja

Cote d'Ivoire: Gbagbo Forces Shell Market

• Gbagbo Forces Shell Market, Killing Dozens
• Crimes Against Humans
• Refugee Agency Shocked at Mounting Violence
• Govt Forces Must Halt Shelling, Says Rights Body
• Fighting Traps Civilians in Abidjan
• Tens of thousands at risk in Côte d'Ivoire as fighting intensifies
• Don't Forget Africa's Other Displacement Crisis, Says IOM