The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called for calm and dialogue on Tuesday 3 November after Alassane Ouattara’s re-election for a third term with 94.27% of the votes in the first round in an election boycotted by the opposition.
“The EU expects all stakeholders to take the lead in calming the climate and resuming dialogue, involving new generations and promoting reconciliation through very concrete measures to turn the page on violence and division”, Borrell said in a statement. He warned that the EU would support any efforts by national and international actors in this direction.
The High Representative then expressed the EU’s “deep concern” about the “tensions, provocations and incitements to hatred” that have prevailed and continue to persist in the country around the election. “The violence must be subject to independent investigations to ensure that justice is done as soon as possible”, he added. At least five people were killed due to the violence surrounding the election.
Furthermore, noting the announcement of provisional results by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the High Representative stressed that the lack of consensus on the electoral framework had created a divide in the country. “Many Ivorians went to the polls, but many others did not, either by choice or by impediment due to violence and blockades”, he explained, pointing to the “very wide disparities in the participation rate in different parts of the country”. The rate is 53.90%.
Already before the elections, the EU had expressed concern about the violence and lack of consensus surrounding the electoral process (see EUROPE 12589/14). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)