The joint election observation mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) issued a preliminary statement on Monday, concluding that the October 25 presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire was generally satisfactory, despite noting logistical incidents and occasional irregularities.
The mission, led by Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, the former Vice President of Nigeria, welcomed the overall peaceful conduct of the polls.
The observation team, comprising 255 observers across 88 teams, visited 1,477 polling stations nationwide. Their preliminary findings highlighted several logistical shortcomings. While 67.79% of observed polling stations opened on time, 32.20% experienced delays ranging from ten minutes to an hour. These delays were attributed to the late arrival of electoral materials, temporary absence of some agents, and biometric equipment failures.
92% of the 810 stations observed were rated as having “good” or “excellent” voting procedures, with only 8% experiencing difficulties related to voter management or ballot secrecy. Approximately 25% of inspected stations presented barriers for people with reduced mobility, and tactile ballots for the visually impaired were available in only 12% of cases.
The mission reported a low presence of representatives for four of the five candidates—Jean-Louis Billon, Simone Gbagbo, Henriette Lagou, and Ahoua Don Mello—in most polling stations, contrasting sharply with the visible presence of delegates for incumbent candidate Alassane Ouattara.
An isolated security incident was reported in Lolobo, Yamoussoukro district, where approximately thirty armed men temporarily disrupted voting at a primary school before security forces intervened and restored calm.
The mission recommended that electoral authorities improve logistics, provide replacement teams for absent agents, and enhance the accessibility of polling places ahead of upcoming legislative elections. Professor Osinbajo urged all political actors to exercise restraint and await the official announcement of the results.
According to provisional figures published by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), voter turnout stood at 50.10% of the 8.7 million registered voters. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara received a commanding 89.77% of the vote, followed by Jean-Louis Billon (3.09%), Simone Ehivet Gbagbo (2.42%), Ahoua Don Mello (1.97%), and Henriette Lagou (1.15%). This election represents a key step in the country’s democratic consolidation following the post-election crises of 2010 and 2020.
AC/fss/abj/APA