With Monday's arrest of Cote d'Ivoire's outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo, the country has opened another chapter of its history.
The country which is now under full control of former prime minister Alassane Ouattara has embarked on a new path after nine years of socio-political crisis and over four months of post-election crisis.
As the country has been weakened by these periods of uncertainty and violence, the president-elect is undoubtedly faced with immense challenges.
WILL HE FORM A UNITY GOVERNMENT?
Ouattara is first a member of a coalition of several parties, the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), which helped him win the second round of the elections with 54 percent of the votes cast on Nov. 28.
He will therefore have to rule with members from RHDP affiliate parties such as the Cote d'Ivoire Democratic Party (PDCI) and the Union for Democracy and Peace (UDPC).
However, Ouattara is also supposed to reach out to the members of the pro-Gbagbo Cote d'Ivoire Popular Front (FPI) in order to form a government of national unity.
"In FPI, there are also competent people with whom we shall work. In the appointments to senior positions, we shall consider competence and merit," he said when he was presenting his government's program.
"We must ensure that the country is working effectively by bringing on board all competent forces. We must harmoniously work with people from all political groups," said Traore Ali, a youth leader of the Rally of Republicans (RDR) headed by Ouattara.
Ali said a unity government was possible because it was necessary to let everyone serve the country.
It must be acknowledged that members of Gbagbo's party will have to work in the new government. Even though he is in detention, he is still a key player in Cote d'Ivoire's political life.
GBAGBO'S POSITION
"Gbagbo is not just an ordinary person in Cote d'Ivoire. He must be listened to," said Leonce Goze, a member of the pro-Gbagbo youth group Patriotic Galaxy.
It was because of the desire not to deepen Cote d'Ivoire's political woes that the president-elect gave instructions that Gbagbo should be captured alive.
"Gbagbo is no longer at the Golf Hotel, he is in Cote d'Ivoire in a secured villa. He is an ex-president and we should treat him with respect," Ouattara said on Wednesday at a press conference. He reiterated that Gbagbo's life will be protected.
The United States, France and the United Nations insist that Gbagbo be treated with respect and that is why he is being protected by UN security officers.
As for his close confidants with whom he was arrested, Ouattara promised that they will be treated with integrity. He also promised to open an inquiry in the death of Desire Tagro, Gbagbo's ex-interior minister, who died in hospital allegedly due to the injuries he sustained at the time of his arrest.
THE NEED FOR RECONCILIATION
A human rights expert Drissa Traore, who heads Cote d'Ivoire's Human Rights Movement (MIDH), hailed Ouattara's promise to treat Gbagbo with dignity and hoped for rapid creation of a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.
Reconciliation has become the most talked about topic by media outlets after Gbagbo's arrest.
Beyond promoting reconciliation which is necessary for the country's development, a number of observers have questioned whether this might also be a good opportunity for changing the country's constitution.
Regarding this matter, Ouattara had already promised to change the constitution to remove offending clauses.
The country's economic life is another source of major concern. It is crucial that economic activities resume urgently.
Ouattara has promised a quickly return to security in the country, especially in the economic capital Abidjan.
"The priority is to maintain social order and offer security to Cote d'Ivoire nationals," he said, while promising that banks and businesses will soon open.
The president has on most occasions expressed his desire to involve all Cote d'Ivoire nationals in the country's reconstruction and development process.
REPAIR OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY
"Ouattara should repair Cote d'Ivoire's economy because he has the capacity. He has the support of external donors," said Richard Kinimo, an economic expert.
He expressed joy at the French special aid of 500 million euros for Cote d'Ivoire and the 180 million euros that has been promised by the European Union (EU).
"I will be happy to get external resources to assist my country. Money does not have color or smell," Ouattara said in an interview.
He, however, insisted that value-added products are needed, especially coffee and cocoa, of which Cote d'Ivoire is the top producer in the world. The country also has deposits of minerals like gold, diamond, iron ore, gas and oil.
President Ouattara has also vowed to fight against corruption.
RESTORATION OF SOCIAL PEACE
Most of the country's towns especially Abidjan witnessed cases of looting in the post-election violence and this is why the new authorities need to take urgent steps to restore peace and security for people and their property.
Prime Minister Guillaume Soro has warned members of the Cote d'Ivoire Republican Forces (FRCI) to avoid engaging in looting acts. He also asked his fellow citizens not to engage in revenge acts against each other.
However, these warnings and appeals seem not to have had the expected results up to now. Some of the pro-Gbagbo districts including Riviera and Yopougon have witnessed looting and reprisal attacks.
The French Licorne forces, the UN peacekeeping forces and the pro-Ouattara FRCI have decided to conduct joint patrols to fight off any negative elements.
A number of residents and observers interviewed by Xinhua are of the opinion that both the French and UN forces should remain in the country to carry out this delicate task of securing the country.