Cote d'Ivoire: President secures landslide election win November 3 /update 8

Event

President Alassane Ouattara won a third term in office after receiving a landslide victory in the presidential election, according to provisional results announced by the electoral commission on Tuesday, November 3. Ouattara received 94.27 percent of the vote in the election on Saturday, October 31, after opposition parties urged their supporters to boycott the poll. The results have to be validated by the constitutional council and a winner will be formally declared after hearing any challenges or complaints regarding electoral irregularities.

Opposition leaders have said that they will not recognize a Ouattara victory and have created a transitional council to call for a credible election and name a shadow government. Further unrest, which has been widespread in recent months, by opposition supporters is likely to continue over the near term. There were reports of gunfire and clashes in the Cocody neighborhood of Abidjan on Monday, November 2, as a sign that the election is unlikely to put an end to the recent discontent.

Context

Ouattara had been expected to stand down at the end of his current term, but the sudden death of his expected successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, on July 8 left the ruling RHDP coalition with no clear candidate going into the polls. However, Ouattara's decision to stand again has been opposed by the opposition and civil society groups. Unrest linked to the issue has resulted in several fatalities and dozens of arrests.

Advice

Those in Cote d'Ivoire are advised to monitor developments and remain apprised of the political situation, avoid all public demonstrations and political gatherings as a precaution, avoid discussing sensitive political topics in public or on social media, and heed all instructions issued by the local authorities.