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Spontaneous peaceful demonstrations were stopped on Sunday night in Abidjan by Ivorian security forces as announced came that French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost his re-election bid to Francois Hollande.
Hollande, a candidate of the French socialist party, pulled the victory by combing 51.9 per cent of the votes while Sarkozy, of the conservative party, had 48.1 percent in the runoff election held on Sunday.
The West Africa correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents of Yopougon-Abidjan, a strong hold of former Ivorian President Laurent Gagbo,went into wild celebrations when the results were aired directly from France.
The supporters of the former Ivorian president had maintained a strong dislike for the French president after he ordered a joint strike of special French forces with the UN to smoke Gbagbo out of hiding in a presidential bunker on April 11, 2011.
NAN reports that the UN peace military mission increased patrol in the volatile Yopougon in Abidjan, with the gendarmarie and Ivorian Republican forces mounting barricades and check points in various parts of the town.
Some youths hunkered in groups on the streets while the bars were charged with customers as the news came in that Sarkozy was defeated, although the polls had always favoured Hollande from the start of the campaigns.
Olivier N'gussan, one of the supporters of Gbagbo, said: ``We are happy Sarkozy lost the elections because he was behind the war in Cote d'Ivoire from December 2010 to 2011. He involved himself in our internal affairs.
``We want the French to leave us alone, but they will not leave us.''
France colonised most countries in West Africa and had maintained a strong relationship with all Ivorian governments, with constant renewal of defence pacts with each government.
Christelle Yao, another supporter, said: ``Sarkozy and the French government are always nosing into the politics of Cote d'Ivoire and they have not allowed us to grow as we should. They are still our colonial masters.
``Tell them to leave us alone. We are tired of neo-colonialism.''
Yopougon is the largest semi-urban settlement in Abidjan and most residents supported former Ivorian president in his re-election bid, resorting to violence when he lost the elections.
The dreaded Young Patriots, also Gbagbo's supporters, who wrecked mayhem and killed many muslims and foreigners, during the crisis also resided and operated in Yopougon. (NAN)
