As Côte d’Ivoire prepares for the October 25, 2025 presidential election, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting free, transparent, and credible elections in the country.
During an official ceremony held on Tuesday, October 14, in Abidjan, at the organization’s local headquarters in Cocody, ECOWAS announced a financial grant of 217 million CFA francs (approximately USD 384,000) to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and the National Human Rights Council (CNDH).
This funding aims to strengthen logistical, technical, and human resources to ensure the smooth conduct of the vote in a politically sensitive context. The CEI, as the main beneficiary, received about 170 million CFA francs, which will be used to train election officials and polling station staff.
“More than 1,500 observers have already been accredited, and the process is ongoing,” said Koné Sourou, First Vice-President of the CEI, emphasizing that the ECOWAS contribution will help ensure transparency and credibility throughout the electoral process.
The CNDH received nearly 47 million CFA francs, which will finance the deployment of 2,400 human rights observers across 12,000 polling stations nationwide. According to Namizata Sangaré, President of the CNDH, this initiative builds on the Abidjan Declaration of 2021, which strengthened collaboration between electoral bodies and human rights institutions.
“We will be present on the ground to ensure that every citizen can vote freely, without fear or intimidation,” she affirmed, stressing the shared responsibility of political and institutional actors in maintaining a peaceful electoral climate.
For her part, Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, noted that the organization’s support goes beyond financial assistance, reflecting its vigilance and commitment to democracy in the region.
“The organization of peaceful elections is a cornerstone of political stability. We urge the media, community leaders, and political actors to promote messages of peace and transparency,” she declared.
