Ivory Coast’s legislative elections were marked by a widespread boycott, particularly by opposition parties, amid allegations of fraud, reinforcing a long standing pattern of highly contested electoral processes in the country.
Beyond the official turnout figures announced by the Independent Electoral Commission, many political actors and observers see the vote as further proof of President Alassane Ouattara’s camp exerting suffocating control over the democratic process.
Analysts and political figures argue that the mass abstention itself sends a powerful message to the authorities, accusing the ruling camp of repeatedly using manoeuvres to undermine both local and national elections over more than fifteen years.
The opposition has pointed in particular to the most recent presidential election in October, which it described as “rigged”, noting that several prominent opposition figures were excluded from the race through what they called opaque procedures.
In this context, former National Assembly speaker Guillaume Soro, who has lived in exile for six years, launched a fresh attack on the government.
Four of Ivory Coast’s most prominent opposition figures, representing nearly three quarters of the electorate, were arbitrarily removed from electoral lists, Laurent Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé, Tidjane Thiam and Soro.
The marginalisation of influential figures continued with the legislative results announced on Monday, delivering a devastating political blow to the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast. The country’s main opposition party, once the sole ruling party, suffered an unprecedented defeat, losing half its parliamentary seats and retaining just 32.
For the opposition, the setback is historic. The African Peoples’ Party of Ivory Coast, which held 18 seats in the previous legislature, disappeared entirely after its leader, former president Laurent Gbagbo, called for a boycott in November to protest what he described as a harmful social and political environment.
Voter disengagement deepened over the past two months due to conflicting opposition strategies, making it harder to convey a unified message. While the Christian Democratic Party attempted to remobilise its supporters, the Christian Peoples’ Party boycotted the vote and expelled members who ran against party instructions.
The new Ivorian parliament will now be almost entirely dominated by the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace coalition, with around 80 percent of elected officials, 197 out of 255 seats, belonging to it.
As the presidential party, dominant in the north, controlling most regions and municipalities, and holding majorities across all institutions, it has further entrenched its dominance against a weakened Democratic Party of Ivory Coast. That party has been crippled by deep internal divisions, strategic criticism of its leader Tidjane Thiam, and the arrest of several of its officials and activists in recent months.
After securing more than three quarters of the National Assembly seats, President Ouattara’s party has completed its consolidation of power, following his re election in October for a fourth term with 89 percent of the vote. In an almost single colour parliament, the ruling party will enjoy near total freedom to govern without meaningful obstacles.
Public distrust in elections has continued to grow, accompanied by election related violence. The Independent Electoral Commission reported clashes contained by security forces without injuries, while the presidential election resulted in at least 11 deaths and the arrest of 1,658 people.
The situation was further aggravated by allegations of violations and corruption that marred the campaign in recent weeks.