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By Lizzy Chirkpi
Ahead of Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election scheduled for October 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially launched its Pre-Election Mission in Abidjan to promote peace, transparency, and democratic integrity.
Led by Professor Théodore Holo, former President of the Constitutional Court of Benin, the mission commenced its activities on June 30, 2025, following the delegation’s arrival in the Ivorian capital the previous day.
The ECOWAS team has embarked on a series of strategic engagements with both national and international stakeholders. Initial meetings were held with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, as well as the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA). The delegation also held consultations with representatives from media associations, civil society organizations, and the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), along with diplomatic representatives from ECOWAS member.
The ECOWAS team held a meeting with Ms. Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting the mission’s strong partnership with the international community in advancing electoral stability to ensure a stable and credible electoral process.
The objective of the pre-election mission is to assess the current political climate, identify potential risks, and provide concrete recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful, inclusive, and transparent election. By engaging a wide range of electoral actors, ECOWAS aims to build public trust in the integrity of the process and the institutions overseeing it.
“ECOWAS is committed to proactive engagement that promotes trust, accountability, and stability across the region,” stated a senior official from the delegation.
This pre-election initiative marks the first phase of a broader ECOWAS electoral support strategy. The framework is expected to expand in the coming months to include long-term electoral observers, conflict prevention mechanisms, and mediation capabilities as election day approaches.
As Côte d’Ivoire enters a sensitive pre-electoral period, ECOWAS’s active presence sends a clear message of its unwavering commitment to upholding democratic norms and preventing electoral violence.
With the stakes high and the margin for error narrow, both regional and international observers remain closely focused on Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral trajectory