AU observers evoke a “ generally satisfactory ” conduct of the...

Abidjan, 2 nov (APS) – The African Union Election Observation Mission in Côte d’Ivoire considers that the first round of the presidential election “took place in a generally satisfactory manner” despite the political context.

The mission considers that the first round (…) took place in a generally satisfactory manner despite a political context characterized by the absence of consensus on the process leading to the election of October 31, 2020 between political actors, ” said the head of the mission, Dileita Mohamed Dileita.

“This resulted in a call for civil disobedience and acts of violence,” recalled the former Prime Minister of Djibouti.

The mission, however, made recommendations in the direction of “improving future political and electoral processes” in Côte d’Ivoire.

It invites the government to ” take the necessary measures to guarantee inclusion and citizen participation (….), To set up a framework for consultation between political actors and other stakeholders in order to create and strengthen a climate of confidence capable of guaranteeing peace and stability (…) ”.

At the same time, the AU deplores “the acts of violence which have caused loss of human life and calls on the government to shed light on it”, said Dileita Mohamed Dileita.

He called on political parties and candidates to ” renew dialogue, the only way out for lasting peace and the preservation of social cohesion; to strengthen the civic and electoral education of their activists and supporters (…) ”.

Dileita Mohamed Dileita also called on civil society to “engage in the organization of free, inclusive and transparent elections; to work towards strengthening peace and social cohesion ”.

He calls on the international community to ” continue its efforts to help the stakeholders in the electoral process to resume dialogue; to support initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and social cohesion ”.

For its part, the international Liberal and Democrat observation mission congratulated ” the electoral management and supervision bodies for the good organization of the ballot ”, at the same time paying tribute to the people of Côte d’Ivoire for ” ‘his exemplary maturity and for his high sense of responsibility’ ‘.

She condemned ” the violence caused by the call of part of the opposition to + civil disobedience + (…) ” and called ” the competent authorities to bring those responsible for these incidents to justice ”.

This mission of African and European liberals and democrats which included political leaders, parliamentarians, ministers, and representatives of youth organizations welcomed ” the balanced approach of the government which called for calm and restraint during the campaign and polling day. ”

She encouraged “political actors to favor dialogue, to show restraint and to use legal channels for possible appeals”. For its part, the Indigo platform deplores “an election punctuated by violence that does not promote the massive and serene expression of the populations”.

Indigo Côte d’Ivoire says it has led, through the PTI Advocacy Group, a long-term citizen observation mission, deploying 120 departmental observers since March 2020.

These observers trained and accredited by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) covered the entire pre-election period, from March to October 2020, according to the platform.

It mentions many causes which “did not allow the massive and serene expression of suffrage for a large part of the population” despite “the efforts of the public authorities to guarantee a secure ballot”.

The platform cites ” calls for an ‘active boycott’ of the opposition, the extreme volatility of the socio-political context, the relative psychosis which has gripped many localities in the country (…) the increase in acts of violence and vandalism , the logistical difficulties of deploying electoral materials and the large number of polling stations that could not open in certain districts of the country ”.

Indigo Côte d’Ivoire notes that 23% of polling stations nationwide remained closed on Saturday.

According to the platform, “ the disturbances observed, in particular the barricades which paralyzed certain areas, the threats on CEI agents and the attacks on polling centers which led to the destruction of electoral material, are the reasons for the non systematic opening of these polling stations ”.