The United Nations is calling for calm and inclusivity amid growing political tensions as Côte d’Ivoire edges closer to its presidential election.
President Alassane Ouattara on Thursday met in Abidjan with Leonardo Santos Simão, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, to review the political and security climate in the country.
The UN envoy emphasized the importance of holding the October 25 vote peacefully, highlighting that stability is key to preserving the nation’s recent economic and social progress. He said President Ouattara assured him that measures are being taken to ensure free and secure elections.
The meeting came just days after the opposition Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee. The party is contesting the Constitutional Council’s rejection of opposition candidate Tidjane Thiam, whose candidacy was dismissed due to his absence from the electoral roll. The UN body had already urged Ivorian authorities to safeguard his political rights.
Meanwhile, Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term has sparked controversy, with critics calling it unconstitutional.
