Tension mounting in Ivory Coast with president seeking a third term

(West Africa) (2 minutes read)

·        The presidential race in Ivory Coast with the current head of state Alassane Ouattara seeking a controversial third term,  is creating  mounting political tensions  and ethnic clashes

·        Pascal Affi N’Guessan, President of the Ivorian Popular Front and current presidential candidate, has declared a civil disobedience to prevent the delivery and distribution of any election materials, display of election posters, campaign rallies, and distribution and collection of voter cards

The presidential race in Ivory Coast with the current head of state Alassane Ouattara seeking a controversial third term,  is creating mounting political tensions  and ethnic clashes.

Pascal Affi N’Guessan, President of the Ivorian Popular Front and current presidential candidate, has declared a civil disobedience to prevent the delivery and distribution of any election materials, display of election posters, campaign rallies, and distribution and
collection of voter cards.  His supporters erected barricades on the roads, to express the opposition’s slogan of “active boycott” of the “electoral process” to prevent the holding of any operation related to the election” on October 31. It created roadblocks and traffic disruption.

The conflict saw many shops and restaurants looted and burnt, several cars set on fire and resulted in at least  two  deaths.  Residence of the main opposition political candidate Affi N’Guessan in Bongouanou was torched.