Côte d’Ivoire: UN mission urges prompt resumption of voter registration

The United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) today called for a prompt resumption of voter registration to allow for broad participation in the November presidential elections.

UNOCI spokesman Hamadoun Toure told reporters in Abidjan that the Mission “stresses the importance of a strong commitment to expedite the remaining tasks for organizing free, fair and transparent elections in the country.”

Of primary importance, he said, was the opening or re-opening of hundreds of closed registration centres and the recovery of documentation damaged in disturbances.

Last Thursday Prime Minister Guillaume Soro announced 29 November as the date for the long-delayed election. Welcoming the announcement, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged “all Ivorian parties to respect this date and to work together to complete the remaining tasks related to the electoral process,” in a statement issued by his spokesperson. The elections have been repeatedly postponed, most recently in December of 2008.

Mr. Toure said UNOCI specifically encourages all parties to the ballot to begin registration, help in the publication of provisional electoral lists, confirm voter lists, print and distribute electoral materials and consolidate the legal framework for the electoral campaign and the organization of presidential elections themselves. He added that UNOCI was committed to helping the process.

The Mission has been providing technical and logistical support for preparations for the elections, including in areas such as voter identification and registration.

Some 6 million voters had been registered, or about 70 per cent of the country's eligible voter pool.