Vincent Toh Bi Iri茅 calls for electoral reform in C么te d'Ivoire to end violence
via Abidjan.net9 min read
Vincent Toh Bi Iri茅, leader of the citizen movement Aube Nouvelle, has called for a comprehensive reform of C么te d'Ivoire's Independent Electoral Commission CEI and the entire electoral system to end recurring electoral violence. In an interview with Abidjan.net on Monday, April 20, 2026, Toh Bi Iri茅, a former prefect, emphasized that the CEI is only one component of a broader system. He argued that effective electoral reform requires a global re-evaluation of the Constitution, electoral laws, and the roles of all institutions involved in the process. Toh Bi Iri茅 highlighted that every major electoral cycle in C么te d'Ivoire is accompanied by tensions and violence, indicating a structural dysfunction rather than isolated failures. He stressed the need for clear, inclusive, and universally accepted constitutional rules, revised electoral legislation to enhance transparency and credibility, and rethought institutional mechanisms to prevent post-electoral disputes. Beyond violence, Toh Bi Iri茅 also warned about declining voter participation, linking low turnout to political instability, a common issue in African history. He believes that elections marked by distrust, boycotts, or exclusions weaken the legitimacy of institutions. For Toh Bi Iri茅, electoral reform is not just a technical requirement but a national stability imperative, aiming to transform elections from sources of division into mechanisms for the peaceful legitimization of power. He concluded by stressing the colle
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