Following Feb-March electoral crisis, President Gbagbo and PM Soro 11 Apr agreed to install mechanism to establish legitimacy of electoral lists, unify state treasury, disarm ex-rebel Forces Nouvelles (FN) troops; no elections date set. Former PM Affi N’Guessan (ruling FPI) 13 Apr urged Soro to either disarm FN troops or resign; Soro spokesperson 14 Apr reiterated trust in Gbagbo’s commitment to agreement. UN group of experts on Côte d’Ivoire 12 Apr accused both N and S leaders of hindering reunification for economic, political advantages. Senegal President Wade 22-23 Apr visited Abidjan after request by Gbagbo; met all parties but talks produced no clear outcome. 3 killed 30 Apr in inter-FN clashes in Bouaké (North).

New govt announced 5 March and newly appointed electoral commission (CEI) formally began work 5 March, but electoral timetable still frozen. Ruling FPI party early month called for complete revision of voters list, rejected by opposition RHDP, which stressed registration process complete and 3 March demanded CEI fix poll date for May. President Gbagbo’s allies demanded revamp of local electoral commissions; RHDP denounced as stalling tactic, vowed to use “all means” to counter ruling parties’ “coup attempt”. Tensions between Gbagbo and PM Soro’s ex-rebel Forces Nouvelles (FN) on rise, with FPI pressing for complete disarmament prior to polls; FN leadership 22 March rejected linking DDR to polls. UNSC 17 March expressed concern over continuing election delays, called for polls as soon as possible.

Election preparations ground to halt as President Gbagbo 12 Feb invoked constitution to dissolve govt and electoral commission (CEI), alleging CEI president Robert Mambe manipulating voter rolls to boost opposition. Opposition groups accused Gbagbo of seeking to limit northern vote and stall polls. Events followed rising tensions early month, including several protests against local magistrate rulings striking “foreigners” from voters roll. CEI’s dissolution triggered widespread protests 15-19 Feb; at least 7 killed. Talks between govt/opposition started 22 Feb under mediation of Burkina Faso President Campaoré. Parties 23 Feb announced formation of new govt (with opposition retaining several key ministries) and new CEI (with opposition figure appointed head 25 Feb); opposition 26 Feb called off protests. Ex-rebel Forces Nouvelles 8 Feb warned of rising inter-communal violence and evidence militias rearming.

Tensions over preparations for repeatedly delayed presidential polls continued to rise. Electoral commission (CEI) review of some 1m disputed names on voters list ended 9 Jan with 512,755 voters confirmed. But controversy continued as President Gbagbo on state TV 7 Jan accused CEI of fraud and opposition bias. PM Soro, overseeing electoral process, in effort to diffuse crisis called for annulment of 429,000 disputed names. CEI Chair Robert Beugre 14 Jan called for international investigation into the row. Wider tensions simmered: opposition demonstrations held in Abidjan 13 Jan to protest limited opposition coverage in state media; forcefully dispersed by police. Burkinabe and Ivorian heads of state requested UNSC approve deployment of 500 Burkinabe troops within UNOCI to help secure future elections. UNSC 28 Jan again urged elections, renewed UN mandate for 4 months only, and deferred final decision on Burkinabe deployment.

4 main political actors and mediator Burkinabe President Compaoré met 1-3 Dec in Ouagadougou for 6th meeting of Permanent Consultation Framework; announced presidential polls would be held between late Feb and early March, voters list to be published end Jan. Reports of mounting succession battle within President Gbagbo’s FPI party. Electoral Commission extended to 6 Jan deadline for disputed names on voter list, numbering some 1m, to confirm identity, stating just 40% responses received. Commission said delay would not affect vote.

Electoral commission (CEI) 11 Nov confirmed postponement of national elections scheduled for 29 Nov; new date to be announced 3 Dec. Some progress in resolving disputed voters list. CEI 5 Nov announced 877,000 previously unconfirmed voters now verified, 9 Nov handed list to UN for distribution to polling stations; authorities 22 Nov began to display lists in some locations. Remaining 1m disputed names given 38 days to confirm identity.

Fears increased over further delay in longawaited presidential polls, set for 29 Nov, as electoral commission missed 15 Sept deadline for publishing provisional voter lists; no new deadline given. UNSG Ban 29 Sept warned of major obstacles to poll, including disarmament of militias, reintegration of former rebels. Burkina Faso President Compaoré travelled to President Gbagbo’s home town during mid-Sept state visit; the 2 formerly hostile leaders reportedly signed significant cooperation deal.

President Gbagbo 8 Aug appointed Paul Yao-N’dré, senior member of his party FPI, as head of Constitutional Council, responsible for announcing election results; opposition protested Yao-N’dré’s lack of neutrality. Defence Minister 18 Aug said that disarmament of ex-rebels would not be achieved by deadline (2 months before 29 Nov elections) but stressed delay would not impact on elections.

In 10 July report UNSG Ban stressed responsibility for holding Nov elections on time lies with political parties. UN envoy Choi Young-Jin 17 July called for detailed electoral timetable, 23 July told UNSC that despite progress bureaucratic delays could threaten poll. Electoral commission published election timetable same day. CDI UN Ambassador Djedje condemned “unjustified” remarks allegedly made by French President Sarkozy blaming President Gbagbo for electoral delays.