IVORY COAST: Election date set for October 31

Record ID: 182101

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Election date set for October 31
  • Date: 6th August 2010
  • Summary: YAMOUSSOUKRO, IVORY COAST (AUGUST 5, 2010) (REUTERS) IVORY COAST PRESIDENT LAURENT GBAGBO AND PRIME MINISTER GUILLAUME SORO WALKING OUT FROM ROOM VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT GBAGBO AND PRIME MINISTER WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST PRIME MINISTER GUILLAUME SORO SAYING: "Based on the proposal of the Independent Electoral Commission, the commission has decided today to set October 31st to be the date that the electoral process will begin again." YAMOUSSOKRO PRESIDENTIAL PALACE MAIN BUILDING IVORY COAST FLAG VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF CABINET MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST PRIME MINISTER GUILLAUME SORO SAYING: "I know that the sceptics will not not miss the opportunity to point out that many other dates had been previously announced. But today, I have to say that the government is optimistic, simply because the number of tasks to accomplish are palpable and concrete. We have almost completed what we need to do in regards to the electoral list." VARIOUS OF MINISTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST PRIME MINISTER GUILLAUME SORO SAYING: "We ask Ivorian people to mobilise themselves the minute a date is set and take advantage of the opportunity, so that we can all, together organise a proper election, in a peaceful and serene atmosphere, and to show not only to the region, but Africa as well, that we are capable of organising a proper election, that ca reconcile people, an election that can reinforce peace. An election that can bring the best opportunities for our country." EXTERIOR OF CABINET MEETING HALL VARIOUS OF PRIME MINISTER GUILLAUME SORO LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACKN6ZZ8JV2KN21P3BZVQYV643
  • Story Text: Ivory Coast will hold elections on October 31, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro said on Thursday (August 5), announcing a new date for polls first meant to take place in 2005.
    The previous deadline for elections, in November last year, was missed and the electoral process had since collapsed into political wrangling.
    The polls are badly needed to end years of crisis and economic stagnation following a war in 2002-03 that divided the world's top cocoa growing nation in two.
    Failure to hold the vote has largely put on hold much-needed reforms to the country's cocoa sector, which analysts say is in decline due to neglect during the war and years of political stalemate.
    "It is on the proposal of the Independent Electoral Commission that today cabinet decided to take the 31st October to be the date of the election," Soro told journalists after a cabinet meeting.
    The polls were first meant to happen in 2005 but rows over rebel disarmament and voter identity have caused so many deadlines to be missed that few Ivorians believe their politicians any more when they announce election dates.
    "I know that the sceptics will not not miss the opportunity to point out that many other dates had been previously announced. But today, I have to say that the government is optimistic, simply because the number of tasks to accomplish are palpable and concrete. We have almost completed what we need to do in regards to the electoral list," Soro said.
    The electoral process had been stalled since February, when President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the electoral commission after accusing its former head, an opposition leader, of illegally adding names to the register.
    The resulting chaos has scuppered progress ever since. Critics accuse Gbagbo, who will complete a second five-year mandate in October, without having had to face re-election, of delaying the process because he fears he will lose, a charge he denies.
    Once the showpiece of West Africa and the region's main economic hub, many foreign investors have abandoned Ivory Coast because of its protracted political crisis.
    Soro called on Ivorians to show the rest of Africa that Ivory Coast remains capable of organising a credible election.
    The markets are keenly watching for signs of a possible return to normality, especially cocoa traders who rely on the country for 40 percent of global cocoa supply - and investors in its 2.3 billion U.S. dollar eurobond launched earlier this year.
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