Several Ivorian opposition parties have called for the creation of a new, impartial body to organize upcoming elections. This demand comes after the dissolution of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) in May. The opposition had long criticized the CEI, accusing it of being biased towards the ruling party, particularly during the 2025 presidential election won by Alassane Ouattara.
The opposition parties, including the Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI), propose that the new electoral body be composed of experts in electoral matters, rather than representatives of political parties or government officials. Pascal Affi N'Guessan, president of the FPI, stated that the new body should be "truly independent, neutral, and impartial" and that its members should be recruited "on rigorous bases".
The opposition also wants the new electoral body to be able to carry out its mission without any partisan considerations. Additionally, Pascal Affi N'Guessan suggested the creation of a parallel observation body. Charles Blé Goudé, president of the Cojep, noted that the government and opposition share the same concern of putting in place a mechanism to avoid conflicts in Côte d'Ivoire.
The dissolution of the CEI in May was announced by the government, which promised to work on a mechanism to guarantee "peaceful elections" and a climate of "trust". The opposition had contested the exclusion of Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam from the 2025 presidential election. The CEI had defended itself, stating that it was applying the rules in force.
A meeting between the opposition parties and the government was held on October 5, which was attended by Ahoua Don Mello and representatives of Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, alongside representatives of Laurent Gbagbo's party. However, the Parti Démocratique de Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI), a major opposition party, was absent from the meeting, having presented its own proposal for reform last week.
The Ivorian opposition parties, although almost united, still have some divisions. The meeting was seen as a positive step towards creating a new electoral body, but the PDCI's absence and the divisions within the opposition may hinder the process. The next local elections in Côte d'Ivoire are scheduled for 2028, followed by the presidential election in 2030.
The creation of a new, impartial electoral body is seen as crucial for ensuring the credibility and transparency of the upcoming elections in Côte d'Ivoire. The opposition parties' demands and proposals will likely be taken into consideration by the government, which has promised to work towards a peaceful and trustworthy electoral process.
Key points
- Opposition parties in Côte d'Ivoire demand creation of impartial electoral body
- New body should be composed of experts, not representatives of political parties or government officials
- Upcoming elections in Côte d'Ivoire include local elections in 2028 and presidential election in 2030
