 As the political dispute turned violent and the two sides battled in Abidjan in March–April 2011, Koulibaly went to neighboring Ghana.After Ouattara's forces captured Gbagbo and effectively took control of Abidjan on 11 April, Koulibaly returned to Abidjan on 19 April 2011.He met with Ouattara on 20 April and discussed the situation, especially the need to constitutionally normalize it by formally swearing in Ouattara as President and putting Ouattara's orders through the National Assembly.