Clashes on the Coast
Photograph of post-election clashes in Abidjan around campaign advertisements. Photo courtesy of Issouf Sanogo of Agence France-Presse.
On 31 October, Côte d'Ivoire held a controversial presidential election, amidst an opposition boycott.
The incumbent, Alassane Ouattara, from the centrist Rally of the Republicans party (RDR), claimed to win with a reported 94 per cent of the vote. Opposition leaders encouraged voters to boycott the election, due to accusations of the poll's illegality.
The two most-prominent opposition candidates, Henri Konan Bédié and Pascal Affi Nguessan, received approximately two and one per cent, respectively, according to official results. Forty opposition leaders were disqualified from the race, heightening political tensions in the country, as reported by The Guardian.
Thousands of Ivorians refugees have fled to neighbouring Liberia, Togo, and Ghana, fearing post-election violence.
Pascal Affi N'Guessan, the Prime-Minister 2000-2003 and 2020 presidential candidate, said 'Maintaining Mr Ouattara as head of state is likely to lead to civil war'.
Mr Ouattara initially vowed not to seek a third term as president but entered the race when the RDR candidate, former Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, died of a heart attack in July. However, opposition leaders accused Mr Ouattara of launching an illegal bid, due to a provision in the Ivorian constitution setting a limit of two presidential terms.
RDR supporters claim that a 2016 constitutional change 'reset the clock' and allowed for Mr Ouattara to run for another term.
Observers have also reported instances of intimidation, violence, and electoral malpractice at polling sites.
Opposition leaders have vowed to establish a transitional government, denouncing Mr Ouattara's mandate and vowing to hold fresh elections, under former president Henri Konan Bédié, as reported by the Associated Press.
Mr N'guessan was arrested by government authorities on sedition charges in early November, following his announcement of the transitional government, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Mr Ouattara originally came to power in 2010, after he defeated incumbent Laurent Gbagbo. However, Mr Gbagbo refused to concede the election, starting a bloody year-long civil war.
Mr Gbagbo was one of the 40 candidates rejected in this year's election.
Many observers fear that another violent power struggle could spark, as a result of the current instability.
Human Rights Watch, a human rights advocacy group, reported that authorities have killed over 50 people in the post-election violence, while dozens of opposition leader have been jailed.
European Union diplomatic chief Josep Borrell made a statement pointing to irregularities in the election, saying 'The EU expresses grave concern over the tensions, provocations, and incitement to hatred that have prevailed and still prevail in the country around this election'.
Côte d'Ivoire is still recovering from its brutal civil war nine years ago, in which 3,000 people reportedly were killed. The looming conflict between Mr Ouattara and the transitional government has cast a shadow of fear over the country.
If Côte d'Ivoire again plunges into internal conflict, it could further destabilise West Africa and start a regional refugee crisis, as COVID-19 continues to ravage the continent.
International leaders have urged both parties to begin negotiations, but Ivorian leaders have shown little appetite for peaceful reconciliation. The already war-torn region may again see another bloody conflict.
Sources:
Akinwotu, Emmanuel. ‘Ivory Coast president wins third term after opposition boycotts ‘sham’ election’. The Guardian, Guardian Media Group, 03 Nov. 2020,
Larson, Krista. ‘Ivory Coast opposition vows to form transition government’. AP News, Associated Press, 02 Nov. 2020,
‘Ivory Coast election: Pascal Affi Nguessan arrested for sedition’. BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation, 07 Nov. 2020,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54834233
‘Ivory Coast election: Alassane Ouattara wins amid boycott’. BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation, 03 Nov. 2020,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54778200
‘Côte d’Ivoire: Post-Election Violence, Repression’. Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch, 02 Nov. 2020,
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/02/cote-divoire-post-election-violence-repression
‘Côte d’Ivoire: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the provisional results of the presidential election’. European External Action Service, 03 Nov. 2020,