blank

Voice of America ®

Trusted Source of News & Information since 1942

About VOA | Contact VOA News

  • Tuesday, 24 November 2009
  • Latest News:

News RSS Feeds RSS Feed

Growing Doubts About Ivory Coast Election Deadline

Share This

 

Ivory Coast is the world's top cocoa grower and one of West Africa's most vibrant economies. But a 2002-2003 war ended with a divided nation.

Now there is mounting pressure for the country to hold elections in order to complete a stuttering peace process.

Despite growing doubts, the independent electoral commission said the November 30 deadline was feasible.

In a recent interview with VOA’s Akwei Thompson, Professor Sery Bailly, a Member of Parliament for the Front Populaire Ivoirienne (Ivorian People's Front) said the country was trying to “solve the technical material and financial problems related to the elections.” However, meeting the deadline “is another matter,” the MP added.

Bailly attributed the delay in voter registration to the problems in transporting equipment from France to Ivory Coast and apathy on the part of would be voters.

“Well first of all, we need some equipment that should be coming from France and I think the equipment has been acquired and there are problems to carry them to Cote d’ Ivoire is the major problem… Secondly, people do not go for identification and now we are told we need a second term to give a last chance to those who are late…” Bailly said.

 

 

Welcome to the new VOANews.com


We'd like to hear what you think of the site - please e-mail us: NewDesign@VOANews.com

Video Features

From the Newsroom

From the Newsroom

Afghan Politics - Analysis by Gary Thomas

More »

GoingGreen

Going Green

Watch: The United States debates cutting its carbon dioxide emissions.

More »

Money in Motion

Money in Motion

Watch: Will the declining dollar remain the world's reserve currency?

More »

Now You Know

Now You Know

Watch: A look at the origin and history of the Internet.

More »

The Link

The Link

Have you discovered a Web link you'd like to share with the world?

More »

Most Popular Articles

Special Reports

VOA Blogs

Most E-mailed Articles