Côte d’Ivoire’s Independent Electoral Commission announced 8.7 million voters on the provisional electoral roll, but opposition parties demand a revision before the upcoming presidential election. The political landscape is shifting with new coalitions forming to pursue electoral reforms, and concerns persist regarding the transparency of the electoral process.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that nearly 8.7 million voters are currently registered on the provisional electoral roll as of this year. This figure, which includes approximately 769,757 new registrations, has been shared with political parties. However, opposition factions are calling for a revision of the electoral roll prior to the presidential election scheduled for 25 October.

Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert, the president of the IEC, highlighted that a “mid-term review” of the electoral process is underway. The provisional list allows Ivorian citizens to lodge complaints regarding any discrepancies beginning Saturday. Coulibaly-Kuibiert emphasized the tight electoral calendar, asserting that there is no opportunity for another review before the elections.

Nonetheless, opposition leaders contest the official figures. Kaza Djah, head of the PPA-CI, questions the integrity of the electoral process, stating that the IEC “does not want to organise transparent elections.” He estimates that the voter roll should contain over 12.5 million names, rather than the reported 8.7 million. Djah expresses concern that potential voters are being systematically discouraged from registering.

The political landscape is also shifting with the recent formation of the Coalition for Peaceful Change, which includes 25 political parties. This coalition aims to advocate for electoral reforms and initiate political dialogue. Notably, neither former President Gbagbo nor COJEP leader Charles Blé Goudé appears on the provisional electoral list due to their legal ineligibility.

As the electoral process develops, the IEC plans to release the final voters’ list by around 20 June. Meanwhile, current President Alassane Ouattara has yet to announce his candidacy for the presidential election planned for October 2025, although the ruling party has conveyed strong support for his potential fourth term, following his controversial third-term victory in 2020.

In conclusion, Côte d’Ivoire faces significant discussions regarding the integrity of its electoral roll, with approximately 8.7 million voters registered. Opposition parties express concerns about the transparency and accuracy of this list, while the ruling party prepares for the upcoming elections. The formation of coalitions for reform adds another layer to the evolving political atmosphere ahead of the presidential election.

Original Source: allafrica.com

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