Côte d'Ivoire: ECOWAS frowns at violence in run-up to presidential election
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday expressed concern about the violence observed in the run-up to the October 31 presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire.
President Alassane Ouattara on Monday filed his candidacy for a third term in office, which has been provoking demonstrations in several localities in Cote d'Ivoire in recent weeks, resulting in deaths.
"The ECOWAS Commission is monitoring the socio-political situation in Cote d'Ivoire following the presidential election scheduled for October 31," the institution said Monday in a statement.
The ECOWAS Commission "is deeply concerned" by the violent events that have taken place in recent days, including those that led to the establishment of a curfew in the localities of Bonoua and Divo on 21 August 2020, and offers its condolences to the families of those who died during these events while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured and expresses its solidarity to other victims of violence.
The ECOWAS Commission urges all Ivorian political actors to avoid violence and to resort to dialogue and the rule of law to resolve all their differences.
It called on them to exercise restraint in all circumstances and to call on their supporters and sympathizers to do likewise, so as to foster the creation of an environment conducive to a peaceful and credible presidential election.
-0- PANA TNDD/BEH/MTA/VAO 24Aug2020
