The Islamist militants in the Sahel have made repeated sorties into coastal West African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire. So far, Abidjan has largely repulsed their attempted advances, with a mix of security and socio-economic initiatives. It should redouble its efforts on both fronts.
Opposition parties displayed unity as political jockeying continued ahead of 2025 presidential election.
Opposition parties jointly called for electoral reforms. Exiled political leader and former PM Soro 9 Aug said his Generations and Peoples in Solidarity (GPS) party ready for “sincere collaboration” with former President Gbagbo’s African People’s Party-Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) party. Announcement followed Gbagbo’s July call for opposition to unite; both Gbagbo and Soro, however, are currently ineligible to run because of previous convictions. Representatives of GPS and PPA-CI, along with largest opposition party Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire and several other opposition figures, same day held joint press conference; parties called for electoral reforms ahead of 2025 presidential election, including extension of period for revising electoral list and inclusive national dialogue before vote. Long-term solidarity between opposition leaders remained uncertain as elections approach. President Ouattara yet to announce who will be candidate for ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace; speculation that he will run for controversial fourth term continued.
Govt maintained hard line against Soro’s allies. Authorities 9 Aug arrested GPS party official Mamadou Traoré for “inciting hatred” following 7 Aug social media posts criticising Ouattara. Authorities 14 Aug detained Kando Soumahoro, another GPS party leader, for illegal participation in political party and disturbing public order after he attended 9 Aug opposition press conference; GPS party officially dissolved in 2021 after Soro and 19 allies convicted of “insurrection”. Court in Abidjan city 16 Aug sentenced Traoré and 21 Aug sentenced Soumahoro to two years in prison each.
Dans cet événement en ligne, nous avons exploré les enjeux sécuritaires concernant le nord de la Côte d’Ivoire.
Acquitted by the International Criminal Court on 31 March, former President Laurent Gbagbo is free to return to Côte d’Ivoire. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Wendyam Hervé Lankoandé analyses the issues surrounding his return, scheduled for 17 June.
Presidential elections scheduled for 31 October in Côte d'Ivoire have sparked new violence in a country marked by deep political divisions. For these elections to proceed peacefully, the various Ivorian political actors, accompanied by regional and continental institutions, should agree on a short postponement of the vote.
Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election, scheduled for October, risks heightening the country’s deep-rooted political tensions. In this excerpt from the Spring Edition of our Watch List 2020 for European policymakers, Crisis Group urges the EU and its member states to push for dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition and develop tangible structures for electoral observation.
Faced with jihadist breakthrough in Burkina Faso, neighbouring states in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea increasingly fear attacks in their own territories. These countries should improve intelligence sharing, strengthen border controls and regain the trust of local populations.
This week’s summit of African and European leaders in Abidjan is a chance to find a win-win solution.
With the UK’s withdrawal from the EU now imminent, a dramatic power shift is changing the balances behind the scenes of the fifth African Union-European Union summit this week in Côte d’Ivoire. It is an opportunity for the EU to forge a new Africa strategy.
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