Meeting with his supporters on Saturday at the Marcory Youth Center in Abidjan, COJEP president Charles Blé Goudé issued a solemn warning to the Ivorian political class. His message was clear: the electoral system must be reformed immediately to prevent the country from plunging back into instability.

Anticipate to avoid the crisis

For the former leader of the patriotic movement, the current calm is deceptive. He deplores the inaction surrounding the major technical issues that usually fuel tensions:

1. The composition of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) .
2. Auditing and revising the electoral list .
3. Electoral redistricting .
4. The reinstatement of political figures excluded from the lists.

"Let's not turn Ivory Coast into a country at risk of elections where, every election year, people pack their bags to flee to neighboring countries," he insisted.

Lessons from the past and regional models

Marked by his experience before the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the 2010-2011 crisis, Blé Goudé recalled the human cost of past conflicts. He believes that Côte d'Ivoire should draw inspiration from the democratic successes of Senegal and Benin by prioritizing dialogue before elections.

A stability issue for the WAEMU

While Côte d'Ivoire has established itself as the economic engine of the WAEMU zone, the recurring electoral violence since 2000 remains a shadow over the country. Blé Goudé urges the government and the opposition not to wait until the final elections to agree on transparent and inclusive rules of the game.

The stated objective is to break the cycle of cyclical crises to guarantee a peaceful and sustainable transition.