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Election Date: November 30, 2008

At stake: President

Background

Ivory Coast attained its independence from France in 1960. Félix Houphouët-Boigny of the Parti Démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI—Democratic Party of Ivory Coast) became president. The country quickly turned into one of the success stories of the African continent, capitalizing on the production of cocoa to achieve economic gains.

Houphouët-Boigny effectively ruled the country as a one-party state until 1990, when other political organizations were allowed to enter the democratic process. In 1993, fellow PDCI member Henri Bédié took over following Houphouët-Boigny's death. In 1995, Bédié earned a five-year term in the presidential election.

In 1999, Robert Guéï led a coup d'etat to topple Bédié's government. Guéï installed a military dictatorship, and tried to establish a country with a focus on ethnicity. New regulations prohibited several candidates from contesting the 2000 presidential election because of their "foreign origin."

While Guéï originally declared himself the victor in the election, Laurent Gbagbo of the Front Populaire Ivorienne (FPI—Ivorian People's Front) was confirmed as president. The restoration of democratic rule did not appease existing tensions, as the politicians who had been barred from the election argued for a fresh ballot. Violent clashes erupted, pitting Ggagbo's mostly Christian loyalists against the followers of the Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR—Rally of the Republicans), a party led by Muslim and former International Monetary Fund (IMF) deputy managing director Alassane Ouattara.

In the December 2000 National Assembly election, Ggagbo's FPI elected 96 lawmakers to the 225-seat legislative branch. Gbagbo and Ouattara reached a peace agreement in 2001, and four RDR members were appointed to the national cabinet in 2002.

On Sept. 19, 2002, what began as a soldier mutiny in Abidjan quickly grew into a civil war. Three armed groups emerged in different parts of the country, including the Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast (MPCI). A ceasefire brokered by France was reached in January 2003, establishing a 41-member administration that included Gbagbo as president and Seydou Diarra as prime minister. Representatives from the armed groups signed the agreement in May 2003 after nine former combatants joined the cabinet. The war, in which thousands of people lost their lives, was officially declared over in July 2003.

The MPCI was renamed as the New Forces in 2003, and still controls the northern half of the country, including the city of Bouake. Supporters of Gbagbo remain in charge of the south, with French troops and United Nations (UN) peacekeepers enacting a buffer zone.

The war has greatly affected the African nation, as the production and exports of both cocoa and coffee are down. In March 2004, the PDCI pulled its seven ministers off the administration, alleging "aggression and humiliation" from Gbagbo.

Presidential Election

On May 14, the Ivorian government and leaders from the New Forces armed group signed an agreement that sets a timetable for disarmament, and outlines a series of reforms to the military. The demobilization process will take place from Jun. 27 to Aug. 10. All warring factions must effectively disarm before the presidential election, scheduled for Oct. 30.

On May 18, four opposition political parties agreed to form a loose alliance against current head of state Laurent Gbagbo. The accord includes the Parti Démocratique de la Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI—Democratic Party of Ivory Coast) of Henri Bédié, the Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR—Rally of the Republicans) of Alassane Ouattara, the Union pour la Démocratie et la Paix en Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI—Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire) and the Mouvement des Forces de l'Avenir (MFA—Movement of Forces for the Future).

The new organization will be known as the Rassemblement des Houphouëtistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix (RHDP—Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace). Each political party will field its own candidate in the presidential election, but all have agreed to support their top finisher in the event of a run-off against incumbent Gbagbo of the Front Populaire Ivorienne (FPI—Ivorian People's Front).

Ouattara described the coalition as "a first-rate political instrument that can establish a new course for our country." Ouattara, who was banned from the 2000 election because his father was born in Burkina Faso, will be able to join the race this time.

On Jun. 7, the opposition coalition issued a statement declaring "null and useless all decisions taken by head of state Laurent Gbagbo concerning the preparation and organization of elections." The group expressed concern over the current constitution, which allows the government to be in charge of the presidential ballot.

In early August, questions about the feasibility of the election mounted after the government missed set disarmament deadlines, and no updated voter lists have been compiled or released. United Nations (UN) special envoy Alan Doss called the situation "extremely difficult" but expressed hope, saying, "We have to keep trying to move the process forward to free and fair elections. Ivory Coast could bounce back fairly quickly. Most of the infrastructure is still there and (Abidjan) is still one of the best-functioning cities in West Africa."

On Aug. 5, PDCI leaders officially nominated Bédié as a presidential nominee. Bédié and the UDPCI's Ouattara have agreed to join forces in the event of a run-off to unseat Gbagbo.

On Aug. 25, the rebel New Forces issued a statement, claiming that holding a ballot at the scheduled date would be impossible, and calling for Gbagbo's resignation.

On Aug. 29, the opposition PDCI, RDR, UDPCI and MFA suggested the formation of a transitional government, and said a free and fair election would not be feasible in just two months

On Aug. 30, French president Jacques Chirac urged for a solution, saying, "In Cote d'Ivoire, today more than ever before, the crisis will be settled via the holding of an incontestable presidential poll: a sincere mobilization of Ivorian political actors around this objective is absolutely crucial."

On Sept. 7, UN representative for elections Antonio Monteiro said holding an election on the allotted date would be "almost impossible," adding, "If we don't have an electoral process that would be acceptable for everyone and engage everyone, then the risk of returning to war is great. If you look at security including demilitarization and disarmament, all of these tasks are now so delayed that naturally they will have an impact on the electoral process."

On Sept. 8, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan criticized the political atmosphere, declaring, "I don't understand these Ivorian leaders, these men who believe they are capable of leading a country, who are seeking to become president of a country they are in the process of destroying. Each side is waiting for the other. They've signed several agreements. They have no problem signing them, but implementation is another story."

On Sept. 11, Bédié returned to the country and urged for the formation of a new government to oversee the electoral process, declaring, "Mr. Gbagbo's pleasure has lasted long enough."

Also on Sept. 11, New Forces leader Guillaume Soro said his group "no longer recognizes the impartiality of (South African) mediation and ends their participation in it." Soro has openly called for Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo to take over from South Africa's Thabo Mbeki as chief negotiator.

On Sept. 15, South African defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the election should be held as scheduled, declaring, "Frankly, there is no reason now why there can't be attainment of elections before the end of the year. (...) You can only introduce chaos and a huge disruption of society if you remove the present arrangement."

On Sept. 16, rebel spokesman Sidiki Konate rejected any delay, saying, "The South African mediation may take their dreams for reality. But it can't decide against the wishes of Ivorians, who want a transition to give the chance for credible elections in the country."

On Sept. 19, Gbagbo urged for a new round of talks aimed at setting a new election date, saying, "If we think that the date of October 30 is too soon and that the rebels have not disarmed, we will ask them when they are going to disarm. That way we will fix a date."

Soro once again refused South African mediation, saying, "We think the case of Ivory Coast should be dealt with at a West African regional level first of all, because we are neighbours, we are brothers, we understand each others' problems."

On Sept. 27, Gbagbo addressed the nation, saying, "The elections can't be held Oct. 30, 2005 because rebels will not have disarmed by this date." The president said the constitution allows him to remain in power after his mandate was supposed to expire. Gbagbo added, "If disarmament took place today, the elections could be held within a maximum of three months."

New Forces member Ahmadou Kone criticized the decision, saying, "Gbagbo's speech shows a panicky president whose lies expose that he realizes that the constitution does not back up his claims."

On Oct. 7, the African Union (AU) decided to allow Gbagbo to remain in power for up to a year beyond his mandate. The AU also recommended the appointment of a prime minister to assume executive powers before the next election takes place.

On Dec. 4, Mbeki and Obasanjo announced the nomination of Charles Konan Banny as prime minister for a transitional period, which will end in October 2006 with a new presidential election. Banny, the governor of West Africa's central bank, has the backing of both the opposition and armed groups and cannot run for president.

On Feb. 16, 2006, UN representative Antonio Monteiro said the work of the Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was being interrupted by disagreements, and called on Gbagbo and Banny to work so the election can be organized by the Oct. 31, 2006 deadline set by the UN Security Council.

On Jul. 5, African leaders, including South Africa's Thabo Mbeki and Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, urged on all warring factions to continue with the peace process and hold the election in October.

On Aug. 14, the country's main opposition parties rejected Gbagbo's plan to remain in power if the election cannot be held before Oct. 31. RHDP spokesman Alphonse Djedje Mady declared, "The RHDP denounces and condemns the head of state's affirmed will to confiscate state power without elections."

On Aug. 17, opposition leaders and rebels held talks in Daoukro. Former president Henri Konan Bedie, Soro, Ouattara, Albert Mabri Toikeusse of the Union pour la démocratie et la paix en Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI—Union for Democracy and Peace in Ivory Coast) and Innocent Anaky of the Mouvement des Forces de l'Avenir (MFA—Movement of Forces for the Future) were present.

On Sept. 21, the UN confirmed that the election would not take place at the end of October. African mediators met with opposition leaders in New York, but Gbagbo refused to attend. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Marie Guehenno declared, "There are serious roadblocks in Ivory Coast which will make it impossible to hold the elections as scheduled."

On Apr. 4, 2007, Soro was appointed as prime minister. In July, Gbagbo and Soro participated in a peace ceremony, where weapons were burned to symbolize the end of the conflict.

On Aug. 7, Gbagbo discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "We must get out of the political crisis through elections." Soro added: "If we all act in good faith, we can organize the presidential election by the end of the year, by December 2007."

On Apr. 14, 2008, the Ivorian government announced that the presidential election would take place on Nov. 30. Gbagbo declared: “Today is a great day for Ivory Coast. I think the government has fulfilled its mission.”

Political Players

President: Laurent Gbagbo - FPI
Prime minister: Guillaume Soro

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Assemblée Nationale (National Assembly) has 225 members, elected to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies.

Results of Last Election:

President - Oct. 22, 2000

National Assembly - Dec. 10, 2000 and Jan. 14, 2001.

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