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Morocco World
5 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Cote d'Ivoire's President Ouattara Bans Opposition to Consolidate Power
Rabat – Cote d'Ivoire's young democratic journey is backsliding as the incumbent president looks to tighten his grip on a presidency he is no longer supposed to run for. In a move aimed at strengthening his position of power in the Ivorian political makeup, President Alassane Ouattara has banned the most influential presidential candidates from the 2025 election. President Ouattara originally came to power in 2010 after an election against then incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo turned into a civil war, which killed 3000 people. Ouattara changed the constitution in 2016 to allow himself to run for a third term in 2020, and Ivorians fear he will stand again for reelection in 2025. He has also been accused of gradually becoming increasingly autocratic throughout his presidency. A popular opposition figure, particularly among young voters, Tidjane Thiam of the Democratic and Peace Party had been rising quickly in the polls. In addition to being the nephew of the country's first President Houphouet-Boigny, Thiam is widely perceived as experienced and competent to run a country that often prides itself as the economic leader in Francophone West Africa. Disqualifying popular candidates Despite Thiam receiving overwhelming support within his party and his popularity among younger Ivorians, a court blocked his bid to become presidential candidate in April 2025. The court notably cast doubt on Thiam's Ivorian nationality, arguing that his holding of French citizenship made him unreliable as the future leader of a sovereign nation. Thiam has contested what he sees as a political trial, noting that he had renounced his French citizenship long before launching his bid to become president of Cote d'Ivoire. And this week, in a decision that has polarized the West African nation and sent it into crisis, the Independent Electoral Commission announced banning Tidjane Thiam from the electoral list. Even more controversially, the ban applies to three other candidates whose popularity and political influence could prove a headache for President Ouattara's camp in any election: former president Laurent Gbagbo, former youth leader and political organizer Charles Blé Goudé, and former Ouattara acolyte Guillaume Soro. A very dependent electoral commission In a telling sign of political intervention from the presidential camp, the Commission contentiously stated that this list is definitive and would not be revised under any circumstances prior to the October elections. Both independent observers and supporters of the banned presidential hopefuls have accused Ouattara of illegally disqualifying his most formidable opponents to centralize power. Once hailed in the West as the savior of Ivorian democracy, President Ouattara is now roundly denounced by his opponents and some of his former advocates in the Western press as a power-hungry agent of democratic backsliding in the West African nation. Thiam has called on the UN to oppose Ouattara's dictatorial project, arguing that the past few years have seen Cote d'Ivoire 'slide towards a total lack of democracy.' Other candidates are qualified to participate in the coming elections, however. These include former First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo and former Minister of Commerce Jean-Louis Billon. But neither of these candidates have the same popular support as Thiam and the other banned contenders. While it is not clear whether the media protestations of the banned candidates will bear any meaningful fruit on the actual political scene, one thing is for certain: this decision means that the October elections will be deeply divisive. Tags: Cote d'Ivoireivory coastOuattarapolitics
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
IEC says no decision taken on electronic voting
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa clarified the potential implementation of electronic voting, asserting that no final decision has been made. Image: Kamogelo Moichela/IOL The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reiterated on Tuesday that it has not taken a decision on the implementation of electronic voting, other than merely developing a document for a national conversation. Electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said they were taking measures to ensure excellence and robust systems in electoral administration. 'Within that broad package of measures we are taking, one of the considerations is the possible introduction of electoral voting. We don't see this as an isolated measure but as package of interventions, utilising technology to make electoral administration better,' Mamabolo said. 'There is no decision to implement electronic voting precisely because that decision, we consider it a national policy matter, which is within the purview of Parliament as a policy making institution of the country. 'We have not taken that decision neither are we empowered to make the decision,' he added. Mamabolo stated that it did not mean a national conversation should not be held. 'We need to have a conversation to hear what the general populace says so that we can empower Parliament at an appropriate moment and take a decision on an informed basis.' The IEC recently held a conference on electronic voting in Cape Town, where a discussion document was presented after the Human Sciences Research Council was tasked to do research on considerations necessary for implementing e-voting. The discussion document was aligned to its strategy to use technology to solve electoral problems as mandated by the Electoral Commission Act. The commission had commissioned a similar study in 2013, which Mamabolo described as a move to ensure the matter was always within their purview. In a presentation, the IEC took the MPs through the objectives of e-voting, benefits, matters to be considered and countries where it is practised and was stopped. Mamabolo said a detailed financial modeling will be required should South Africa opt for electronic voting system in comparison to the current model of voting. He also said there would be a need for a solid legal foundation to define and support e-voting to ensure whatever legal framework decision to support e-voting reality has constitutional plans. MK Party MP Zwelakhe Mthethwa noted that the IEC was preparing for e-voting when there were glitches in the 2024 elections. 'The IEC has not taken us into confidence to what had happened,' said Mthethwa. He said voters were uninterested in reforms, and raised concerns about the Home Affairs Department's plan to allow naturalised citizens to obtain smart IDs. EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi emphasised the need for consultation voting and questioned why the IEC was exploring something that failed in some countries. 'What do you hope to achieve differently?' Mkhaliphi asked before noting problems that were experienced during the previous elections. IFP MP Zuzifa Buthelezi said the time for e-voting has not come in South Africa and pointed to electoral challenges and technology issues. His sentiments were echoed by EFF MP Nombiselo Sompa-Masiu, who said the country was not ready for e-voting. 'The IEC is supposed to start to resolve the challenges we have,' Sompa-Masiu said. In response, IEC commissioner Mosotho Moepya emphasised that they were not proposing anything nor have they decided on anything. 'We are raising our observations in a non-partisan manner. We say 'this is what exists, this system can do, and these are the challenges and benefits'. We are inviting inputs. There is no decision on the table,' Moepya said. Mamabolo stated that South African elections meet the international standards of being free and fair. 'That does not mean South African elections are free of challenges. Every election will be beset by some level of challenges.' Committee chairperson Zweli Mkhize said there would be a lot of electronic voting in South Africa in the near future. 'Between now and that time there is lot of gaps that need to be addressed. It is correct that the IEC should look ahead and explore all these ideas. There can't be a shift in policy unless informed by a decision taking into account the available current technology challenges we face and also various issue that are associated with it,' Mkhize said. [email protected]
Arab Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Court in Ivory Coast removes former Credit Suisse CEO from the presidential ballot
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, April 23, (AP): A court in Ivory Coast ruled on Tuesday that Tidjane Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse, is not eligible to run for president because of his dual Ivorian-French nationality, according to a lawyer representing him. Thiam won his party's primary on Friday in an uncontested vote and was widely seen as the main challenger to President Alassane Ouattara. In a video posted to social media Tuesday night, Thiam vowed to fight this decision. "I will not accept this disbarment because it is unjust, unjustified and incomprehensible,' he said. "I am absolutely determined to fight so that Ivorians can freely choose their next president.' The latest court case follows the rejection on April 16 of 10 similar appeals by the Independent Electoral Commission, also known by its French acronym CEI. Although deemed admissible, these cases were declared "ill-founded' by the electoral institution. Speaking to The Associated Press following the decision, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadjé, one of Thiam's lawyers, said that "the president of the tribunal delivered her decision." "She considered that ... Thiam had lost his Ivorian nationality when he acquired French nationality (in 1987), and therefore granted the petitioners' requests and ordered ... Thiam's removal from the electoral roll,' Dadjé said. Thiam's lawyers didn't offer any challenge to the ruling. Ivory Coast is set to hold the vote in October. Ouattara won in 2020 after a disputed election left dozens dead and opposition candidates boycotted the election.
IOL News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC's by-election complaint backfires, exposes housing crisis
THE ANC crying foul over alleged voter irregularities during eThekwini's Ward 110 by-election has backfired, and laid bare the party's failure to address South Africa's long-standing housing crisis. The ANC and the DA recently lodged a complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of SA, claiming that 135 people were registered under a single residential address in Mount Moriah, north of Durban, during the hotly contested by-elections last week. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ But instead of exposing voter fraud, the complaint has spotlighted something far more damning; millions of South Africans still don't have proper housing — a crisis born under the ANC's watch, after the party ascended to power during the watershed 1994 elections. The party held onto the levers of power in the country as a single party until last year's national election, which saw the ANC only able to claim 40% of the votes cast. The ANC now governs together with nine other parties under the banner of the Government of National Unity (GNU). A community activist, Siyabonga Gema, who has led a series of marches in Mount Moriah, said: 'The ANC's complaint about the people who use the same address points to its failure to provide proper housing for poor people. People use the same address because their shacks don't have official addresses and resorted to using the same addresses for voter registration .' Gema said the issue of the addresses was a long-standing issue that the government had 'turned a blind eye to'. 'We have been raising this for a long time, but the government, particularly the ANC government, has turned a blind eye to our calls for the provision of proper houses,' said Gema. Gema said the issue of people sharing the same address was widespread in the country. Last week's by-election loss to the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), led by former president Jacob Zuma, was a stinging blow to the ANC and the DA. The MKP won by a mere 22 votes. The MKP secured 2 435 votes in narrowly defeating the DA, which bagged 2 413 votes. The ANC came in third with 966 votes in what was once its stronghold. The MKP's Mandla Biyela will take over the reins as the ward councillor. Ward 110, which includes Phoenix, Mount Moriah, and Umhlanga, was previously under DA control. Mount Moriah was riddled with heavy informal settlements. It is estimated that between four and five million people currently reside in informal settlements in South Africa. Residents of informal settlements have limited access to basic sanitation and water services Where such services are provided, they are usually limited, dysfunctional, and most often posing a health and safety risk. S'bu Zikode, president of Abahlali baseMjondolo, the country's largest shack dwellers' movement, said the ANC had been exposed 'for what it is'. 'Thousands of people in almost every shack settlement share one address. Some settlements were created by the ANC. These communities are treated as vote banks, not as human beings. We're glad they're being exposed.' Abahlali BaseMjondolo have led many marches to highlight the plight of the shack dwellers, and in some instances has also hauled the government to court over the appalling conditions of informal settlements. IEC provincial spokesperson Thabani Ngwira said they received objections from the ANC and the DA: 'We did receive a formal objection on Friday before the closure of the objection period. The matter is still being investigated.' Attempts to draw comment from the ANC KZN's spokesperson, Fanle Sibisi, were unsuccessful. WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995
