21 Sep 2018 | 10:30 AM UTC
Côte d’Ivoire: Increased security ahead of October elections /update 1
30,000 security personnel to be deployed ahead of municipal and regional elections being held October 13; anticipate political rallies in the coming weeks
Event
Authorities have announced the deployment of 30,000 members of security forces - including soldiers, policemen, and members of the gendarmerie - ahead of the municipal and regional elections being held on Saturday, October 13. An increase in political rallies is expected throughout Côte d'Ivoire from Friday, September 28, the beginning of the official campaign period. Heightened security measures and traffic disruptions are anticipated around all election-related events.
Context
Tensions are possible during these elections following the recent "divorce" between the PDCI (Parti démocratique de Côte d'Ivoire) and the RDR (Rassemblement des Républicains) parties, who were both allied under the ruling RHDP coalition (Rassemblement des Houphouëtistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix). On August 9, the PDCI decided to put an end to the alliance after the RDR proposed to transform the coalition into a political party.
Advice
As a precautionary measure, individuals present in Côte d'Ivoire are advised to monitor local media, avoid all protests and demonstrations (as they could turn violent), and refrain from discussing domestic political issues in public.
