Ivory Coast's army chief has urged all security forces yesterday to support the internationally recognised president, Alassane Ouattara, whose rival, Laurent Gbagbo, was arrested on Monday, bringing to an end the four-month conflict, that killed more than 1,000 and evacuated more than a million. Gbagbo, who had been refusing to resign after 10 years in power, was arrested after French forces surrounded the bunker where he was hidden for the past week.

Ouattara, who won a November presidential election according to U.N. certified results, was now recognized internationally as president but people are afraid that this won’t stop the violence wave as he has to manage to unite the country around him and to reconstruct the economy of the world’s largest cocoa grower whilst investigating the atrocities committed.

The EU Development Commissioner Andris Pielbalgs has announced to provide a recovery package of 180 million euros to the country that will barely be enough to the momentaneous basic social needs, as health, water and sanitation. The biggest part of the aid to the Ivory Coast is supposed to come from the former colonial sovereign France that has assured 400 million euros for emergency relief to the population, the city of Abidjan, the restart of essential public services, economic activities and also the payment of debts due to financial institutions. However, the capital, a city of four million, is now destroyed and has more than a million people without a home and thousands more trapped in their homes with almost no food or water. The numerous power cuts and the lack of medicines have led aid personnel to alert about a humanitarian disaster unless the authorities can act quickly.

In Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers stated that "The EU welcomes President Ouattara's commitment to achieving national reconciliation and it stands ready to support the work of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission". I was also said the EU, has lifted “some sanctions on some entities”, but they could consider “easing more restrictions and resuming development programs for Ivory Coast” when possible.

An International Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations, was set up by the UN Human Rights Council last month, to investigate the charges as quickly as possible but Ouattara has also declared yesterday that Gbagbo, his wife and supporters will face justice and he promised that a South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission will reveal all crimes and human rights abuses.