Voter registration period ahead of Nov elections ended 30 June. President Laurent Gbagbo undertook 4-day visit to west 8 June, announced deployment of 800 troops to secure population ahead of Nov elections. French Operation Licorne announced force gradually downsized over past 3 months to 900 troops.

PM Soro 14 May announced long-awaited presidential elections to be held 29 Nov. Govt and opposition parties, following 18 May meeting in Ouagadougou, stipulated voter enrolment to be completed 30 June. Opposition reacted cautiously to timetable, citing previous delays. Deployment of integrated force composed of govt and former FN rebels, charged with monitoring security during elections, began early May: 100 loyalist forces deployed in ex-rebel stronghold Bouaké, 100 FN in Abidjan. 10 northern FN-controlled zones formally handed over to civilian administration 26 May. French journalist Jean-Paul Ney, jailed for 16 months over possession of footage indicating coup plot, released temporarily with 6 Ivoirians.

Signs of divisions within ex-rebel Forces Nouvelles (FN). FN officials 14 Apr called on ex-FN leader PM Soro to withdraw from power-sharing govt, citing reform failures and stalled elections; dismissed by PM’s office. FN commander in north briefly kidnapped by FN troops 12 Apr. Youth movement MJCC-CI held hunger strikes, announced rallies for Apr in protest at election delays. UN panel monitoring CDI arms embargo 8 Apr highlighted dominance of heavily armed militias in north and risk of conflict.

President Gbagbo, PM Soro and facilitator Burkinabe President Compaoré met in Ouagadougou 16 March, but still no date set for presidential poll. Electoral Commission again extended voter registration deadline, to end-March: UNOCI reported 5.8m voters of eligible 8m registered. Opposition Movement of Future Forces leader Innocent Anaky arrested mid-month after broadcasting call for Gbagbo’s overthrow. IMF agreed $565m loan, wrote off $3bn national debt.

UNOCI 12 Feb called on govt, electoral commission to formulate timetable for repeatedly delayed presidential elections in 2009. Electoral commission 22 Feb said timetable forthcoming. Former rebel Forces Nouvelles (FN) reportedly yet to begin implementation of Jan agreement to hand administrative control of FN-controlled north to govt. 3 FN troops killed in Man town 1 Feb in further internal FN feud over access to resources.

Ex-rebel FN forces 15 Jan formally handed control over administration and taxation in northern strongholds to central govt, raising prospects for reunification, though observers cautious on FN commitment; handover yet to start. Rebel disarmament stalled over lack of funds. UN envoy 13 Jan stressed major achievements in voter identification amid ongoing controversy over election delays. 21 detainees escaped from Abidjan prison 7 Jan in second high-security prison break since Dec. France, citing improved security, announced troops to be reduced from 2,000 to 900 by summer.

In sign of further dissidence within military, group of ex-rebel Forces Nouvelles soldiers raided Bouaké prison 12 Dec, freeing FN detainee and 20 others. Large- scale, violent protests held in Abidjan prison 13 Dec in separate incident over prison overcrowding. 700 soldiers reportedly deployed to western cocoa growing region amid continuing, sporadically violent, land tensions. Govt and FN 22 Dec signed fourth political accord to integrate rebels into national army over 2 years. World Bank 15 Dec promised $120m in aid, to focus on infrastructural development in northern rebel heartland.

Political leaders 10 Nov announced postponement of 30 Nov elections and called on electoral commission to set new date by 31 Dec. UNSC 7 Nov warned poll delays risk disrupting north-south peace process. Army said 9 killed in 24 Nov attempt by unconfirmed group to seize weapons in western Séguéla army camp. 2 killed 20 Nov in clashes in west area of Zeaglo as armed youths attacked convoy of farmers returning to land after displacement during 2002 rebellion.

Electoral officials said 30 Nov presidential elections “impossible” due to major delays in voter identification and disarmament. UN SRSG Choi called for momentum to be maintained, while UNSC 29 Oct renewed arms embargo and targeted sanctions, promising to review after poll. Registration process suspended 23-24 Oct after attacks on electoral offices. Inter-party talks on deal to supplement March 2007 Ouagadougou peace agreement started 14 Oct, focusing on status of ex-rebel FN fighters and stalled military reform program.

Discussion over feasibility of 30 Nov presidential election date intensified amid severe delays in voter identification and disarmament processes; ruling party VP 5 Sept highlighted risk of botched elections if not postponed, contradicting govt assurances, while opposition called for fresh inter-party talks if date pushed beyond 2008. Registration drive started 15 Sept but with limited capacity. Communal tensions spiked: 10 killed, over 20 injured 5 Sept in inter-ethnic clashes in Bondoukou district.