In January 2011, during the Second Ivorian Civil War, President Laurent Gbagbo ordered the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador from the country. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that he would not recognize the expulsion of the ambassador by President Gbagbo as Canada "doesn't recognize the current regime's claim to government, and therefore doesn't recognize its orders for Canadian diplomats to leave.". Canada had earlier asked Ivorian diplomats to leave Ottawa in protest to Gbagbo's refusal to cede power after he lost the November 28th, 2010 presidential run-off to Alassane Ouattara.