Côte d’Ivoire: Ruling coalition wins municipal and regional elections /update 6

Event

According to official results, the RHDP (Rassemblement des Houphouëtistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix) ruling coalition has won the 13 October municipal and regional elections, garnering 46 percent of the vote in the municipal elections and 60 percent of the vote in the regional elections. However, votes have not yet been counted in certain areas, such as in the Facobly department of Guemon region and Port-Bouët (Abidjan district) would be re-held after voting records were destroyed by unidentified men on Monday, October 15. The men entered the local branch of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) building on Monday evening before the results could be announced. The CEI has said it will announce the date of the new election within a month. Protests to denounce the situation are possible in the coming hours and days.

Political tensions remain high throughout the country following the release of the results, which have been denounced by many who claim the vote was marred with fraud. Appeals to the Supreme Court are likely within the five next days and clashes between rival supporters are possible in the coming days.

Context

Violence erupted in several cities across the country on the day of these elections, held to choose city and regional counselors, notably in Abidjan, Diabo (center), Tiébissou (center), Lakota, Séguela (center), Divo, Bonoua (south), and Grand-Bassam. At least three people were killed.

Political tensions are currently elevated in the country as the elections follow the recent "divorce" between the PDCI and the Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR) parties, who had both been allied under the ruling RHDP coalition. On August 9, the PDCI (Parti démocratique de Côte d'Ivoire) decided to put an end to the alliance after the RDR proposed to transform the coalition into a unified political party.

Advice

As a precautionary measure, individuals present in Côte d'Ivoire are advised to monitor local media, avoid all protests and demonstrations (as they could turn violent), and refrain from discussing domestic political issues in public.