The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has proposed Saturday, December 27, 2025, as the date for the next legislative elections in Côte d’Ivoire. The announcement was made on August 14, 2025, in Cocody by CEI President Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert. This proposal will be submitted to the government for validation and the adoption of a decree convening the electoral college, in accordance with Article 20 of the Electoral Code.
The choice of this date stems from constitutional requirements outlined in Article 90 of the Ivorian Constitution, which stipulates that the current legislature must end on December 31, 2025. The CEI president emphasized that the Commission, as the body responsible for elections, is obliged to organize the legislative polls before this deadline. “The Constitution is clear. The mandate of the deputies ends on December 31, 2025. We therefore have the obligation to hold the elections before that date,” said Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert.
By proposing December 27, the CEI also aims to ensure that the newly elected deputies can begin their mandate at the National Assembly on January 19, 2026, the date of the opening of the first ordinary parliamentary session.
Addressing concerns over a potential overlap between the legislative and presidential election calendars, the CEI president offered reassuring clarifications. Coulibaly-Kuibiert explained that measures had been taken to prevent any overlap between the two polls. “The submission of candidacies for the legislative elections will take place after the announcement of the provisional results of the presidential election. This calendar ensures an orderly and well-managed electoral process,” he assured.
Regarding administrative procedures for candidates in the legislative elections, the CEI president pledged unwavering support. Steps will be taken with the relevant ministries (Justice, Interior, Budget, etc.) to facilitate the issuance of required administrative documents: certificate of nationality, birth certificate, criminal record extract, tax clearance certificate, and proof of deposit of the electoral bond.
Revision of the Electoral Roll: A Technical Impossibility
“The CEI will stand by you. We will not leave you alone to face administrative challenges,” Coulibaly-Kuibiert insisted. Finally, regarding the possibility of revising the electoral roll before the elections, he explained that such a revision would be technically impossible to carry out in time. Electoral authorities will therefore focus on the existing process, with no plans for further modifications to the voters’ list before the polls.
It is worth recalling that the last legislative elections were held on March 6, 2021. The legal and administrative framework currently in place ensures that the upcoming elections will be conducted under the best possible conditions.