The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has provided a total of $384,000 in financial assistance to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s ongoing electoral process. The funds were officially handed over to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) during a recent ceremony in Abidjan.
The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Her Excellency Fanta Cissé, presented the financial packages, giving $300,000 to the CEI and $84,000 to the CNDH as part of the ECOWAS Regional Support Program for Electoral Processes in Member States.
The event was attended by Mr Sourou Koné, First Vice-President of the CEI, representing President Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert; Ms. Namizata Sangaré, President of the CNDH; and Mr Serigne Ka, Acting Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division and Head of the Long-Term Election Observation Mission (LTEOM).
In her remarks, Ms. Cissé underscored that “peace and democracy are ongoing processes that require constant commitment.” She highlighted that these principles are nurtured daily through dialogue, tolerance, and the shared responsibility of all political and social actors.
She commended the Ivorian people for their democratic maturity and acknowledged the government’s continued efforts to sustain a peaceful and inclusive political environment.
By extending this financial support, ECOWAS reaffirms its dedication to democracy, good governance, and regional stability, in line with the organization’s Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, particularly Articles 12 to 14, which emphasize support for member states during electoral periods.
The initiative reflects ECOWAS’s broader mission to strengthen institutional frameworks, promote credible elections, and consolidate peace across the West African region.
