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Cote d'Ivoire: Political Developments
Cote d'Ivoire: Political Developments
Date distributed (ymd): 000818
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: West Africa
Issue Areas: +political/rights+ +security/peace+
Summary Contents:
Cote d'Ivoire military leader General Robert Guei this week
registered as an independent candidate for the presidential
election scheduled for September 17. Both Ivoirian and
international observers expect rising tension as the election
approaches. This posting consists of excerpts from a recent report
by a delegation to Cote d'Ivoire of the National Democratic
Institute in Washington.
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Statement on Political Developments in Cote d'Ivoire
Abidjan, August 11, 2000
National Democratic Institute, Washington, DC
[Excerpts only: for full statement see http://www.ndi.org
For further information on NDI's programs in Cote d'Ivoire,
contact Sef Ashiagbor at [email protected] or Susan Perez at
[email protected].]
From August 6 to 11, an NDI delegation visited Cote d'Ivoire
and met with leaders of the main political parties, members
of the transition government, representatives of civic
organizations involved in democracy support activities,
leaders of labor unions, journalists and other Ivorians
interested in the transition process. The delegation's
mission was to assess the current political environment and
preparations for national elections planned for September and
October 2000. The delegation's visit followed extensive
consultations and a post-referendum roundtable organized by
NDI's in-country representatives.
NDI's delegation to Cote d'Ivoire included elected officials,
election experts and political analysts: Audrey McLaughlin,
former President of the New Democratic Party of Canada;
Ousmane Ngom, Secretary General of the Senegalese Liberal
Party; Mountaga Tall, President of the National Congress for
Democratic Initiative of Mali; Guy Martin, Professor of
Government at the University of Virginia; and Chris Fomunyoh,
NDI Regional Director for West, Central and East Africa. The
delegation was joined by NDI's Resident Director in Cote
d'Ivoire, Derek Singer. The delegation was assisted by Sef
Ashiagbor, NDI Program Officer.
I. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The delegation noted several problems involving fundamental
democratic principles and political participation that cause
grave concerns about the prospects for a credible and
transparent transition to democratic rule. Among these
problems, the delegation identified four critical issues that
could undermine the integrity of the entire transition
process.
Despite the Committee for the Salvation of the Republic
(CNSP)'s promises and public assertions of commitment to a
genuine transition in the days following December 24, 1999,
prospects for a credible transition in Cote d'Ivoire have
diminished because of partisan tensions and distrust among
political actors, controversy over the eligibility criteria
for presidential candidates, restrictions on political party
activity and travel by party leaders, and ambiguity over
whether General Guei will become a candidate for president.
At the same time, Ivorians desire an expeditious end to the
transition and a quick return of the country to democratic
civilian rule.
General Guei's decision to file his candidacy for the
presidency with the PDCI, his decision to remove members of
some political parties from the transition government in May,
the change in the language of the constitutional referendum
on presidential eligibility after the text was published in
the Government Gazette, and the steps taken to curtail
political party activities all continue to raise concerns
among Ivorians and within the international community that
there is a lack of commitment on the part of the CNSP to an
inclusive, transparent and representative transition whose
outcome would be viewed as credible and legitimate.
The delegation heard continued debate concerning Alassane
Ouattara's eligibility to run for president. The delegation
also heard speculation about other party leaders and
potential candidates that could be prevented from running
under provisions of the newly voted constitution. However,
the delegation observed that preventing the candidacy of
Alassane Ouattara or other party leaders without just cause
would be seen by many Ivorians and most of the international
community as denying Ivorians the right to make a full choice
at the ballot box. Such an outcome would adversely affect
the integrity of the election and transition processes.
The independence of the judiciary is a cornerstone of every
democratic society. It takes on added importance when the
individual and human rights of citizens are at stake. The
delegation noted that the political crisis of the last twelve
months has deeply shaken the integrity and independence of
the Ivorian judiciary.
These issues should be resolved in a manner that inspires the
confidence of Ivorians and the international community in the
CNSP's commitment to a credible and transparent transition
process. ...
Political Context In December 1999, an NDI delegation visited
Cote d'Ivoire at a critical stage in the country's history.
Rising political tensions had created an atmosphere that
jeopardized chances for inclusive and transparent elections
in 2000. At the same time, Ivorians were faced with pressing
social and economic problems that required increased
accountability and transparency in the management of
resources.
The December 1999 delegation identified serious problems
involving fundamental democratic principles and political
participation that caused grave concerns about the prospects
for democratic governance and meaningful elections.
Opposition party leaders had been arrested and imprisoned
under a law that restricted the rights to freedom of
assembly. The delegation was also concerned about questions
raised regarding the independence of the judiciary, as well
as lingering doubts about the administration of and legal
provisions for the electoral process. Given the precedent of
election-related disputes and violence during the 1995
elections, the delegation strongly urged that additional
decisive measures be taken immediately to create an
appropriate environment and conditions for a democratic
electoral process that would have the confidence of the
Ivorian people.
On December 24, 1999, one week after the NDI delegation left
the country, the military overthrew President Henri Konan
Bedie and his government. Due to the lack of respect for
democratic principles and practice, and the disinterest in
genuine dialogue with opposition leaders on issues of
importance to the country demonstrated by the Bedie
government, many Ivorians initially welcomed its ouster;
however, notwithstanding the non democratic character of the
Bedie government, the manner in which it was replaced raised
deep concerns about the future of democracy in Cote d'Ivoire.
The emergence of military rule, previously unheard of in
Cote d'Ivoire, cast a cloud of doubt over prospects for
democratic governance in the country.
The Post-Coup Transition Immediately following the events of
December 24, the military created the CNSP led by General
Robert Guei, dissolved the National Assembly and suspended
the constitution. The CNSP released all political prisoners
who had been incarcerated by President Bedie including the
nine Rassemblement des R�publicains (RDR) leaders imprisoned
since October 1999 and whose records were expunged. After
consultations with political parties and civil society
organizations, General Guei appointed an interim government
that included representatives from across the political
spectrum. He also established a broad-based Constitutional
and Electoral Consultative Commission (CCCE) to draft a new
constitution and electoral code. General Guei's decision to
establish an inclusive transition cabinet comprised of
members of the political parties and civil society
organizations gave confidence to Ivorian citizens that the
military would continue to play an apolitical and
non-partisan role.
Shortly after the coup on December 24, 1999, Ivorians and
democrats around the world urged the military leaders to
establish a transition government, create institutions that
would lay the foundation for inclusive elections and return
the country to civilian rule. Initially, the military
declared its intention to play a neutral role in the conduct
of the transition elections. It seemed to recognize that the
credibility of the entire transition would depend on
constitutional and electoral reform processes that are fair
and so perceived by Ivorians.
In February, the CNSP created the Commission for the
Supervision of the Organization of the Referendum (COSUR) to
oversee the administration of the constitutional referendum
originally scheduled for April 30, but later postponed to
July 23. It included representatives from the seven main
political parties, civil society, and government ministries.
In May, the CNSP announced a timetable for presidential,
legislative and municipal elections.
II. FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE NDI DELEGATION
... As in December 1999, the delegation identified serious
problems involving fundamental democratic principles and
political participation that cause grave concerns about the
prospects for democratic governance and meaningful elections
during the current transition period.
Eligibility of Presidential Candidates The debate on the
eligibility of presidential candidates has plagued Ivorians
for the past year and is threatening to further divide the
country along regional, ethnic, and religious lines. In
March 2000, the CCCE, tasked with drafting a new constitution
and electoral code, submitted to General Guei its final draft
constitution and electoral code to be put to referendum. The
draft recommended that in order to run as candidate for
presidential office the candidate's mother or father had to
be Ivorian. Six days before the referendum, and after the
draft constitution had been published in the official
gazette, the CNSP changed the eligibility requirement to
read, 'both the mother and father' of presidential candidates
must be Ivorians by birth. This substantive modification of
language already agreed upon by the CCCE and made public
resulted in widespread confusion about the significance of
the referendum. It also suggested to many Ivorians that
deliberate attempts were being made to block the candidacy of
a specific political candidate whose parentage has been
questioned by his opponents.
The Military's Interference in Political Processes As in
1999, when an Executive Order issued by President Bedie
restricted public 'demonstrations in open sites', recent
edicts by the CNSP have prevented certain political parties
from holding political events. For example, on July 27, the
RDR party was prevented from holding a public meeting to
launch its platform. While the CNSP explained that 'political
demonstrations and rallies' are prohibited until the official
campaign period is opened, certain parties, including the new
Rassemblement pour le Consensus National that was formed in
support of Guei's candidacy, have been allowed to hold
meetings to discuss their platforms. ......
The delegation heard disturbing reports of the violent
suppression of a peaceful demonstration organized on July 31
to express support for French Minister Josselin's comments on
the political situation in the country. Demonstrators were
beaten, stripped naked, forced to crawl along the road and to
perform other inhuman acts. The brutality of such acts
perpetrated by the security forces, shocked Ivorians and the
international community, particularly since similar
demonstrations had taken place a few days before in support
of the government's position without the intervention of
security forces. This incident raised serious concerns about
the CNSP's respect for human rights, especially in the
immediate aftermath of the referendum that approved a
constitution guaranteeing such rights.
Government Inconsistency and Violation of Decrees In May
2000, the CNSP reshuffled the broad-based interim government
formed in December 1999 to exclude representatives of several
political parties from the transition cabinet. More military
officers were brought into the cabinet, and all but one of
the CNSP officers were assigned ministerial portfolios. The
CNSP also faced an army mutiny on July 4 and 5. Although the
CNSP reached an agreement with the mutineers who were
demanding payment for their role in the December coup d'etat,
in the aftermath of the mutiny the CNSP accused political
parties of encouraging the mutiny and arrested and detained
four political party leaders for two days without charges.
The president of the Parti pour le Progres et le Socialisme,
was questioned over his alleged involvement in the events of
July 4 and 5. The delegation also arrived in Abidjan in the
middle of the trial of 45 of 51 military officers accused of
involvement in the July mutiny.
The delegation noted that the CNSP breached many of its own
decrees relating to the conduct of the transition and the
constitutional review process. For example, the functioning
of the full CCCE and its subcommittees in the constitutional
review process was not respected. An amendment defining the
eligibility for presidential candidates was unilaterally
changed by the CNSP six days before the July 23
constitutional referendum and after the initial text had been
published, leaving many Ivorians uninformed about the actual
text they were voting on. Despite a decree signed by General
Guei on July 25 authorizing political party leaders to
travel outside the country without first seeking prior
permission from the CNSP, on July 27 the president of RDR was
prevented from leaving the country. In addition, the Minister
for Communication has given approval for Radio Nostalgie to
resume operations but security forces continue to prevent the
radio station from broadcasting.
Independence of the Judiciary ... The delegation noted that
the political crisis of the last twelve months has deeply
shaken the integrity and independence of the Ivorian
judiciary. For example, in the fall of 1999, numerous
politically motivated charges were brought against Ouattara
by the Bedie government. The delegation strongly believes
that the rights of innocent citizens should not be trampled
on; however, the manner in which the charges were brought
and then dropped lends credence to the perception that the
Ivorian judiciary is highly politicized. The group heard
numerous concerns related to the recent appointment of judges
to the Supreme Court, the body tasked with ruling on the
eligibility of presidential candidates. ...
Administration of Transition Elections Although the various
agencies and donors involved in the referendum process worked
hard to deploy resources in a short time frame, a variety of
logistical problems plagued the referendum. ... This
led to an extension of the voting for an additional day. All
major political parties called for a 'yes' vote on the
referendum. Such unanimity cannot be expected in subsequent
polling. The delegation noted the recent formation of a new
national election commission whose independence is yet to be
established.
Access to State-Controlled Media State-controlled radio and
television are the only media that reach virtually all parts
of Cote d'Ivoire. The delegation heard complaints of a lack
of equitable access and coverage (including the right of
response) of political party activities in the
state-controlled media. Under the newly adopted
constitutional provision, equitable access to state owned
media for all candidates is to be guaranteed by the National
Commission for Audiovisual Communication (CNCA). ...
Freedom of the Press The delegation was also concerned about
questions raised regarding the exercise of freedom of the
press, and the harassment and mistreatment of journalists in
Cote d'Ivoire. Since the army mutiny of July 4 and 5, Radio
Nostalgie, an independent radio station, has been shut down.
In the days leading up to the delegation's visit, two
journalists working for a local newspaper were arrested for
defamation of the head of state and detained for two days. A
reporter working for the BBC was also been beaten by security
forces as he tried to observe and report on demonstrations in
front of the French Embassy.
Ethical Standards for Reporting Print media play a highly
visible role in political discourse, particularly in Abidjan.
Freedom of the press is critical to a democratic system and
journalists also have a responsibility to report on issues
accurately and without bias. While the press coverage
situation improved early this year, the delegation noted that
the increasingly partisan nature of a number of media in Cote
d'Ivoire exacerbates political differences and contributes
to an environment in which it is more and more difficult to
separate fact from fiction as covered by the Ivorian press.
This situation hinders the public's ability to make informed
assessments of political developments that affect the
country.
Voter Registration The validity of electoral lists, and
complaints about the lack of thoroughness of the voter census
and registration process, were among shortcomings identified
by opposition parties during the Bedie era. These problems
continue to plague the electoral process in the country. Some
of the major political parties complained that many of their
supporters had been targeted when, just days before the
referendum, COSUR announced that approximately 80,000
registered voters were placed on a list of ineligible voters
pending proof of their citizenship. Registered voters were
given one week to offer proof of their citizenship, but for
many this process was unclear. Over 8,000 individuals filed
petitions to be reinstated on the voter lists. However, once
again, due to the short time available, not all of the
requests were processed in time for the referendum. ...
Civic Education The delegation found a dearth of information
and political discourse on democratic principles and
practices. Ivorians are not being informed about the
provisions of the newly adopted constitution. ...
Before the new constitution and electoral code, Cote d'Ivoire
had traditionally used a multiple ballot system. Single
ballots were used in the recent referendum and are the norm
established in the new electoral code. Many Ivorians agree
that the single ballot is less susceptible to manipulation
and enhances voters' rights to a secret ballot; however, the
delegation heard complaints that citizens had not been
provided adequate information or other education about the
use of a single ballot in the period leading up to the
referendum. ...
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the
Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC provides
accessible information and analysis in order to promote U.S.
and international policies toward Africa that advance economic,
political and social justice and the full spectrum of human rights.
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