Hollande, Macky Sall, Drogba, others console Ivory Coast

Following the deadly terrorist attack at Grand Bassam, several people have taken to social media to express their solidarity with the people of Ivory Coast and families of the eighteen people who lost their lives.

President Ouattara earlier confirmed the death of fourteen civilians and two soldiers of the Ivorian special force, a number which was later revised to fifteen civilians and three soldiers.

Political leaders and sports men featured prominently among those who condoled with the Ivorian people and the families of the victims.

President of Senegal and leader of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Macky Sall sent a tweet to console the Ivorians and also Turkey, who were hit by a deadly car bomb attack in Ankara.

.@Presidenceci @RT_Erdogan, en ce moment douloureux, tout notre soutien à la #cotedivoire et la #turquie. Mes pensées vont aux victimes. MS.

— Macky SALL (@macky_sall) March 14, 2016

French President Francois Hollande tweeted after issuing a statement that labelled the attacks as ‘cowardly,’ not long before his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy also posted a tweet.

François Hollande’s Twitter message to the Ivorian people

Je dénonce avec force le lâche attentat de Grand Bassam et témoigne aux victimes et à leur famille la solidarité de la France.

— François Hollande (@fhollande) March 13, 2016

Nicolas Sarkozy’s solidarity message read as follows:

Ns sommes aux côtés des ivoiriens à leur tour lâchement attaqués par la barbarie terroriste. Nos pensées vont aux victimes, à leurs familles

— Nicolas Sarkozy (@NicolasSarkozy) March 13, 2016

Moise Katumbi, owner of TP Mazembe and a wealthy Congolese businessman also tweeted to offer condolences to the governments of Ivory Coast and Turkey after the European country was also hit by a deadly attack in the center of its capital, Ankara.

Katumbi urges that ‘‘terrorism everywhere be combatted with strength and courage. ‘’

Terrorism has struck again. In #Beni, Grand Bassam, Ankara…we must fight with all our strength. Thoughts to the families of the victims.

— Moise Katumbi (@moise_katumbi) March 13, 2016

In the sports world, Ivorian internationals Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Ghana’s Andre Dede Ayew also reacted and sent their condolences to the bereaved families.

Condolences to all the victims of these horror attacks!!#weneedpeaceinthisworld #cotedivoire #bassam pic.twitter.com/wlL3pHr4OZ

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) March 13, 2016

Same tears😢…
Meme souffrances😢…#prayforabetterworld #prionspourunmondemeilleur pic.twitter.com/ZjmmLxvrrR

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) March 13, 2016

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the Ivory Coast https://t.co/15E4bH0mig

— Yaya Touré (@YayaToure) March 13, 2016

Que Dieu protège mon pays
Hommages aux familles des victimes 💔💔💔😩😩😩🤕🤕🤕 #prayforcotedivoire🙏🏾🙏🏾🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/4DE5d0SM0y

— Serge Aurier (@Serge_aurier) March 13, 2016

Pray for my country Ivory Coast. pic.twitter.com/QLnEKRL1A6

— Wilfried Bony (@wilfriedbony) March 13, 2016

Ghanaian international and Swansea City player, Dede Ayew, also tweeted in solidarity with Ivory Coast and Grand Bassam for that matter.

PRAY FOR BASSAM🙏🙏#africa❤️ pic.twitter.com/9H7cosXJcC

— André Ayew (@AyewAndre) March 13, 2016

The attack of Grand Bassam was claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). According to the Ivorian authorities, an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the attack.