Political alliance in Côte d’Ivoire applauds government’s openness in electoral reform process

A political coalition in Côte d’Ivoire has expressed strong support for the government’s decision to reform the electoral governance system, describing it as a sign of genuine attentiveness to concerns raised by political actors and civil society groups.

The Alliance of Ivorians for Democracy (AID) and the Union of Popular Masses for Peace (UMPP) issued a statement on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Abidjan, commending the government after a meeting held on June 22 at the Prime Minister’s office. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, focused on restructuring the body responsible for overseeing elections.

According to the AID-UMPP, the dissolution of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI)—whose members’ terms had expired—along with the announcement of a new electoral governance framework, directly addresses long-standing demands from political parties and civil society organisations.

The group believes the reform marks a fresh chapter in how elections are conducted in Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to strengthen transparency, rebuild trust among political players, and prevent crises before and after elections.

While acknowledging the achievements of the CEI, the coalition praised the government’s plan to establish three separate bodies: one for the logistical organisation of elections, another for vote counting, and a third for overall supervision of the electoral process.

The AID-UMPP stated that the reform is grounded in principles of professionalism, neutrality, transparency, and efficiency, which they said should help solidify institutional stability and enhance the credibility of future polls.

Furthermore, the coalition urged political parties, civil society organisations, community leaders, and all electoral stakeholders to support the implementation of the reform with a sense of responsibility, patriotism, and dialogue.

Calling on the government to continue working toward stability and national cohesion, the AID-UMPP also appealed to political actors to place their trust in the country’s institutions, stressing that respecting institutions is a key factor in consolidating democracy and preserving peace in Côte d’Ivoire.