Democracy News

Ivory Coast Elections Delayed Once More
February 11, 2010
By: Paul Larson | Printer Friendly

The Ivory Coast elections have been delayed again and rescheduled for late February or early March, reports the Associated Press.  This postponement is just the latest in a string of delays since the end of President Laurent Gbagbo’s term in 2005.  Delays have continued for years due to disputes over who is Ivorian and consequently who is eligible to vote.  This concern has been exacerbated by rising xenophobia, according to the New York Times. 

Ivory Coast President Gbagbo accused Robert Mambe, opposition member and head of the Independent Electoral Commission, of trying to add bogus names to a list of eligible voters.  A tribunal of eight judges found Mr. Mambe and four other officials guilty of registering more than 420,000 unlawful voters for the country’s presidential election, according to Business Week.  Mr. Mambe denies the claim of adding foreign voters to the registry.  He responded by accusing President Gbagbo of removing eligible voters from the list and delaying elections to remain in power.
The Associated Press reported that opposition leaders have organized thousands of protesters to demonstrate against what they call targeted suspicion of their supporters.  A government building was burned in the city of Vavoua during a protest attended by 3,000 people.  There have also been demonstrations in Katiola, Divo and Man resulting in violence.

National identity remains a contentious issue in the Ivory Coast eight years after igniting the 2002 civil war, according to Voice of America.  The state has been divided into a government-held south and rebel-controlled north following a brief civil war.  Rebel groups have warned the current dispute over voter eligibility could reignite violence between government and rebel forces, which would end a 2007 agreement.

The issue of nationality has been at the heart of contention ever since cocoa, coffee and cotton prices fell in the mid-1990s, according to the New York Times.  Ivory Coast’s economy took a very hard hit and blamed foreigners for their hardship.  Consequently, people labeled as “foreign” are viewed with suspicion and anger, which is being exploited by the government.

Sources:

Associated Press - Ivory Coast opposition protests voter list probe

Business Week - Ivory Coast Finds Electoral Body Guilty of Fraud (Update1)

New York Times - Many in Ivory Coast May Be Left Out From Vote

Relief Web - IVORY COAST: CONTESTED ELECTORAL LISTS, PROTESTS AND TENSIONS

Reuters - Thousands riot over voter lists in Ivory Coast town

Taiwan News - Ivory Coast election boss denies voter fraud

Voice of America - Ivory Coast Elections Could be Delayed Again

Voice of America - Former Ivory Coast Rebels Warn of Civil War