Tensions arose this weekend in Côte d’Ivoire, within the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP). The ruling party elected its departmental councilors but the ballot was marred by violence in several localities.
From our correspondent in Abidjan, Youenn Gourlay
Séliki Zié Koné has just been elected secretary general of the department of Kouto, in the north-west of Côte d’Ivoire. But Saturday, July 23, the ballot was marred by violence due to irregularities. Half of the 2,000 activists were not registered on the electoral list and according to the newly elected, thugs would have burst in to disrupt the vote.
” The polling place was crowded with people when at 9 a.m., the opponent himself returned with a horde of about thirty people, these people entered the polling station, seized the ballot boxes and broke them “says the Secretary General.
In Kouto, the toll is seven slightly injured due to crowd movements. In other localities, such as Bouna in the northeast and Aboisso in the southeast, the ballot simply did not take place because of the tensions.
Séliki Zié Koné expects a reaction and firmness from the party leadership: “ Why so much violence for a family election? Because in my opinion, the candidates think, naively, that this election will determine the choice of candidates for the local elections which will take place in 2023. I hope that the party leadership will take full measure and make the necessary arrangements so that the discipline and respect for the party are entrenched “.
The RHDP executive board is due to meet on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.
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