Ivory Coast dissolves electoral commission amid independence controversy

The Ivorian government officially dissolved the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) on May 5 after sustained opposition criticism over how the body organized elections. The decision was taken during a Council of Ministers meeting, paving the way for a new election management system.

Communications Minister Amadou Coulibaly said at a press briefing: 'Given the reservations expressed about this institution and the criticism it has faced, the Council of Ministers has decided to dissolve it.' He stressed the move aimed 'to ensure in the long term the organization of peaceful elections by creating more confidence and reassuring all Ivorians and the political class.'

Coulibaly declined to reveal what body would replace the CEI, saying only that a new mechanism would be discussed and established at the government level. The CEI was founded in 2001 and has been responsible for organizing all elections since the end of military rule in 2000, with the core role of ensuring the strict enforcement of electoral law.

The opposition has repeatedly accused the CEI of lacking independence, arguing that its composition leans toward the ruling coalition. The government had previously dismissed these allegations. The CEI has been at the center of most major electoral disputes, including the 2010 presidential election whose contested result led to months of deadly violence.

In the most recent presidential election in October 2020, incumbent President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term with close to 90 percent of the vote, after several prominent opposition figures were barred from running. This sparked criticism from the opposition and civil society organizations over the inclusiveness of the electoral process.