Days after his release from prison, Mamadou Traoré, a former adviser to Guillaume Soro, has called on President Alassane Ouattara to extend a hand to his former political ally and pursue reconciliation.

In a message published on Aug. 12, Traoré urged Ouattara to “bury the hatchet” and reach out to Soro, arguing that a renewed dialogue could help strengthen peace and reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire.

Traoré was released on Aug. 6 after serving a two-year prison sentence. He said his release was not the result of a presidential pardon or a reduction of his sentence, but followed the completion of the term imposed by the court.

His appeal comes against the backdrop of the long-running political rift between Ouattara and Soro, who previously served as prime minister and president of the National Assembly under Ouattara.

Traoré said seven years had passed since the rupture between the two men and urged the president to take the initiative for a political rapprochement.

He referred to previous episodes in Côte d’Ivoire’s political history in which former rivals eventually sought reconciliation, arguing that dialogue and political forgiveness could again help overcome divisions.

“The history of our great nation has always been written through forgiveness and self-transcendence,” Traoré said.

Soro, who remains outside Côte d’Ivoire, continues to be a prominent opposition figure through his political movement, Générations et Peuples Solidaires.

Traoré’s intervention puts the possibility of reconciliation between Ouattara and Soro back into the political debate, particularly as Côte d’Ivoire continues to address the legacy of its past political crises.

There has been no official announcement of a new dialogue or reconciliation process between Ouattara and Soro following Traoré’s appeal.

For now, the initiative remains a personal political appeal. But it highlights the continuing significance of the relationship between the two former allies and the possibility of a future political rapprochement.