Ivory Coast government has dissolved the Independent Electoral Commission after sustained criticism over election management practices nationwide, officials said Wednesday in Abidjan.
Government approved the decision following repeated disputes over the commission’s independence and electoral handling, spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly said at news conference.
Authorities said the move aims to create a new election management system and restore public confidence in elections, ensuring peaceful polls.
Government discussions will now determine what structure will replace the CEI in future electoral administration reforms across the country, officials added.
Created in 2001, the CEI has overseen elections since the end of military rule, shaping Ivory Coast’s democratic transition process.
The commission was central during the disputed 2010 presidential election, whose contested outcome triggered months of deadly nationwide violence crisis.
In October 2025, President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term with nearly 90 percent after several opposition figures were barred.
Opposition parties accuse the commission of lacking independence, alleging alignment with ruling coalition, claims the government has repeatedly rejected these accusations.
Officials say reforms will strengthen credibility of elections and guide Ivory Coast toward more inclusive and peaceful democratic processes future.