The potential complexity of elections in Côte d'Ivoire may surpass initial impressions
Cote d'Ivoire is gearing up for its presidential election, scheduled to begin on October 24, with the incumbent president, Alassane Ouattara, seeking a third term. However, the lead-up to the election has been marked by controversy and calls for dialogue.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged the Ivorian government to hold formal talks with the opposition as soon as possible. In a new report on Cote d'Ivoire, the ICG expresses concern about the lack of negotiations between parties for a peaceful transfer of power after elections. So far, there are no search results providing information about parties negotiating for a peaceful transition.
Rinaldo Depagne, West Africa director at the ICG, has commented on the current situation, stating that it is remarkably calm compared to earlier campaigns. Depagne suggests that this calm may be due to voters "switching off" from politics, as they don't expect much from it. He also notes that politics is seen as dangerous by many people in Cote d'Ivoire due to the violations of the bill of rights surrounding previous elections.
The election campaign officially kicked off on October 10 and will end on October 23. Four candidates are standing against Ouattara in the election: Jean-Louis Billon, Ahoua Don Mello, Henriette Lagou, and Simone Gbagbo, the former first lady.
The ICG's report highlights several priorities for the next administration, including addressing violations of the bill of rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, ending forced evictions, respecting the right to truth, justice, and reparation for victims of electoral violence, protecting the rights of women and children, and the right to a healthy environment.
The election in Cote d'Ivoire has been fraught with unrest and clashes in the past. In fact, no presidential election since 1995 has resulted in a peaceful change of power. Previous elections have seen violence, with several people killed in election violence in 2020 when Ouattara stood for a third term.
Thousands of people protested last month against the exclusion of opposition leaders from the election. Several candidates, including former president Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, were disqualified by the court. The absence of the main opposition parties in the race has been noted, with Depagne suggesting that the candidates in the current election are well-known politicians who have been on the scene since the 1990s.
The ICG has urged parties whose candidates have been disqualified to resist the temptation to boycott the election. An attack on a bus in Yopougon, a suburb of Abidjan, was the only notable incident of violence reported so far.
Amnesty International launched a manifesto on September 15, setting out six key priorities for the next administration. The manifesto calls for an end to human rights violations, respect for the bill of rights, and protection for marginalised groups.
The current situation in Cote d'Ivoire raises concerns about the potential for violence and unrest in the lead-up to and after the election. However, the ICG's call for dialogue and the focus on bill of rights priorities offers a glimmer of hope for a peaceful and fair election. As the election approaches, all parties involved must work towards maintaining peace and upholding the bill of rights of all Ivorians.
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