Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides News Agency) - “A response to the concerns expressed by various actors in national socio-political life.” This is how the bishops of Ivory Coast have described the government’s decision to dissolve the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The suppression of the IEC was approved by the Council of Ministers on May 6. The bishops’ position was made public in a statement published at the end of the 129th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ivory Coast (Conférence des évêques catholiques de Côte d’Ivoire, CECCI), held from May 25 to 31.
“At a time when the country, yearning for peace, authentic reconciliation, and integral human development, continues to struggle, after so many years, to regain its full serenity and unite all its citizens, the bishops of Côte d'Ivoire have taken note of the Government's decision to dissolve the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in order to establish a new mechanism for managing elections in the country,” states the communiqué from the CECCI, signed by its president, Bishop Marcellin Yao Kouadio of Daloa.
The bishops welcomed “this initiative, which the authorities have presented as a response to the concerns raised by various actors in the nation's socio-political life.” They also encouraged “the government to continue this reform process in a spirit of listening, dialogue, and consultation with all sectors of the nation.”
At the same time, they expressed their hope that “the future system will not be politicized and will effectively contribute to reassuring political actors, consolidating citizens’ trust in the Republic’s institutions, and guaranteeing transparent, fair, inclusive, and peaceful elections.” The message concludes by reaffirming the Church’s willingness to offer its support wherever its expertise is needed. “Together, the State and the Church can build, for the benefit of Côte d’Ivoire, a land of hope, justice, peace, fraternity, and social cohesion, provided that neither loses sight of the ultimate goal: the full happiness of all the people.”
The Ivorian Electoral Commission was created on October 9, 2001, with the objective of organizing and overseeing elections and referendums in Côte d’Ivoire. It had legal personality and administrative autonomy. Throughout its 25 years of existence, the organization has been the subject of constant criticism from the opposition due to its alleged lack of neutrality and independence, as well as repeated controversies in various electoral processes. Following the announcement of its dissolution, several political parties have begun to define their conditions for the creation of a new electoral management mechanism, while criticism has also arisen regarding the lack of consultation with all stakeholders before the decision. (L.M.) (Fides News Agency, 3/6/2026)
