Following the dissolution of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced on May 6, the Forum of Civil Society Organizations of West Africa (FOSCAO-CI) has broken its silence. In a statement published this Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the organization calls on the government to urgently define a transparent roadmap for the creation of the future electoral body.

A call for transparency and inclusion

The Forum's coordinator, Drissa Soulama , stated that he acknowledged the end of the current Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). However, he stressed that this act should only be the prelude to a "comprehensive, inclusive, and participatory" electoral reform.

FOSCAO-CI has specific expectations of the authorities:

1. Publication of a "clear" timetable : To allow all stakeholders to prepare effectively.
2. Broad consultations : The organization advocates direct dialogue with political parties and civil society to define the foundations of the new commission.
3. International support : The Forum requests technical support from ECOWAS to guarantee the credibility of the institutional transition process.

Putting an end to the old demons of controversy

By recalling the history of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), created in 2001 amidst tensions, FOSCAO-CI highlights the weaknesses that have plagued the Ivorian political landscape. Despite successive reforms, the institution has often been perceived by the opposition and human rights defenders as an instrument under the influence of others, lacking genuine independence.

"Formal progress has never fully guaranteed the effective independence of the commission, which is often hampered by political interference," the statement notes.

The specter of the 2025 elections

This call for sweeping reform comes after the 2025 general elections, which were marked by significant tensions. The failure to revise the electoral register and the boycott by several opposition parties undermined the legitimacy of the vote.

For FOSCAO-CI, the establishment of a new impartial and independent commission is now the sine qua non condition for restoring voters' confidence and sustainably stabilizing democracy in Ivory Coast.