Cote d'Ivoire president urges those in exile to return "without fear"

Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday urged his fellow citizens who fled to neighbouring countries during the 2010-2011 post-election violence to return to the country "without fear."

The president who was speaking during a visit to the eastern region of Tiapoum, said Cote d'Ivoire needed the contribution of all of its citizens in the development process.

"We need to build the country together. To achieve this, we must cultivate love and peace. Without peace there is no development," Ouattara said.

"Return to the country and we shall find you jobs," the president said, insisting on the need for youth to reject political manipulation.

At the height of the post-election violence, many Cote d'Ivoire citizens, especially supporters of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, fled into exile.

Statistics released by the government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees indicate that out of 300,000 Cote d'Ivoire citizens who left the country at the height of the crisis to take refuge in neighbouring countries, two thirds have so far returned.

The authorities and humanitarian organizations are still carrying out an awareness campaign, urging those in exile to return because "normalcy has effectively returned to the country." Endit