New York, Oct 28 2010 2:10PM
The current security and political calm bodes well for this weekend's long-awaited presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2010/537">report, underlining the need for the polls to take place as scheduled.
The elections, originally scheduled for as far back as 2005 and repeatedly postponed, constitute a major step in restoring stability after civil war split the West African nation into a Government-held south and a northern area dominated by the rebel Forces Nouvelles in 2002.
The country was making progress toward the holding of elections with the publication of the provisional electoral list throughout the country, the launch of the appeals process, and the validation of all major candidates for the presidential election.
However, a political impasse began in early January after the production of the second electoral list. Political tensions began to mount after voter registration was suspended due to violence and President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the Government and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in February.
The polls are now slated to be held on 31 October, followed by a second round on 28 November if there is no clear winner.
Y. J. Choi, Mr. Ban's Special Representative to Côte d'Ivoire, said earlier this week that 31 October will be a "historic" day for the country, with solutions having been found for all logistical and political challenges in the run-up to the Sunday polls.
"For the time being, I don't see any serious obstacles" before the election, he said, voicing confidence that it will be held on 31 October as scheduled.
In the new report made public today, Mr. Ban writes that that the "positive and calm political and security climate engendered by the Ouagadougou Political Agreement [the 2007 blueprint for political reconciliation] and the spirit of compromise and consensus that has brought Côte d'Ivoire thus far are encouraging and bode well for the elections."
He encouraged the political parties and candidates to adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct for the polls, signed in 2008.
The Secretary-General calls the establishment of a final voters list a "major breakthrough" in the country's peace process. "It not only makes the holding of elections possible, but it will also allow millions of Ivorians to receive identity cards, thus addressing the identification issue, which has been at the centre of the Ivorian crisis."
But he voices concern over reports that militia groups are threatening to disrupt the electoral process, pledging the support of the UN peacekeeping mission, known as UNOCI, to put the necessary security arrangements into place and prevent the undermining of the polls.
The mission, set up in 2004 to monitor a ceasefire and to help bring stability to Côte d'Ivoire, has flown in hundreds of additional soldiers to reinforce its 8,650 troops already there.
Oct 28 2010 2:10PM
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