Vincent Toh Bi Irié calls for electoral reform in Côte d'Ivoire to end violence
via Abidjan.net9 min read
Vincent Toh Bi Irié, leader of the citizen movement Aube Nouvelle, has called for a comprehensive reform of Côte 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 Irié, 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 Irié highlighted that every major electoral cycle in Côte 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 Irié 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 Irié, 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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