In Côte d’Ivoire, the ECOWAS ministerial mission completed its two-day mission on Monday 19 October. In its final statement, the delegation from the West African Economic Community called for restraint, but also called on Pascal Affi N’guessan from the FPI and Henri Konan Bedié from the PDCI to reconsider their words on the order of boycott of the electoral process and civil disobedience.
as reported from Abidjan, Jenna Le Bras
It was after a courtesy visit by outgoing President Alassane Ouattara and consultations with the Prime Minister, opposition political parties, but also several accredited ambassadors and members of the United Nations Security Council that the declaration took place. It works in a tense climate. For several days, in fact, violent clashes have resumed, especially in the center-east of the country, but also in several districts of Abidjan.
She had first made an appointment at the institution’s headquarters, but it was finally fast on the tarmac at the airport that ECOWAS ‘mission made its final statement. It was an interpreter along with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Shirley Botchway who read the conclusions of this visit.
Show tolerance and avoid hate speech
“The mission encouraged candidates to focus on realistic points to help resolve disputes with a view to inclusive, transparent, credible and non-violent participation in the presidential election. The mission called on the candidates and the political parties to make a significant effort to reach agreement on the presidential election “.
In this brief statement, the delegation also urged everyone to show tolerance and avoid hate speech that could lead to violence. She also called on the PDCI and FPI candidates to reconsider their call for boycott and civil disobedience.
On the side of the PDCI, the climate was tense after this statement, an official said. At FPI, however, we welcome this mediation. “ECOWAS is in its role. She is asking for the dialogue to start and we are very happy about that,” explained Jean-Bonin Kouadio. The opposition platform is planning a joint official statement on Wednesday 21 October.
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