Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABIDJAN523
2009-09-08 07:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:
PRESIDENTIAL DECREES BUY ELECTORAL COMMISSION MORE
how-toP 080747Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5363 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000523
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL DECREES BUY ELECTORAL COMMISSION MORE
TIME
REF: A. ABIDJAN 503
B. ABIDJAN 462
Classified By: Political Officer Tanya Salseth for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000523
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL DECREES BUY ELECTORAL COMMISSION MORE
TIME
REF: A. ABIDJAN 503
B. ABIDJAN 462
Classified By: Political Officer Tanya Salseth for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (U) SUMMARY: On August 25, President Gbagbo signed
three presidential decrees that give the Independent
Electoral Commission (CEI) more time to produce and post the
provisional electoral list. Although the provisional
electoral list was originally scheduled to be published on
August 29, the CEI now says it will be ready by September 15,
and that the delay will not impact the November 29 date. In
keeping with the electoral timeline, the CEI also opened
registration for potential presidential candidates. END
SUMMARY
NEW PRESIDENTIAL DECREES
--------------
2. (U) Although the Ivoirian electoral code states that the
provisional electoral list must be published three months
before presidential elections on November 29,
election-related decrees that President Gbagbo signed on
August 25 give added flexibility to the CEI to meet this and
other deadlines. The decrees state that due to the special
post-crisis nature of these elections:
- The provisional electoral list must be posted by October
29, or at least 30 days before elections are held.
- The definitive electoral list must be posted by November
14, or at least 15 days before elections are held.
- All voter cards must be distributed by November 21, or at
least 8 days before elections are held.
PICKING UP THE PACE
--------------
3. (C) Election preparations have noticeably picked up
speed since late July when the CEI drew sharp criticism for
failing to publish a detailed electoral calendar (reftel B)
and missing the start date for processing voter registration
data. The United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI)
reported on September 2 that all 70 coordination centers are
now operational, and over half of the centers have completely
finished all data scanning and digitization operations.
SAGEM rep Fabien Rouaud told Poloff that all Abidjan data
(which represent a significant portion of the 6.5 million
petitioner forms collected during the identification process)
have been scanned, digitized, and are ready for validation.
Although the joint CEI - National Commission for the
Supervision of Identification (CNSI) teams are not yet in
place, CNSI rep Mamadou Cisse told Poloff that internal CNSI
problems have been resolved, and field teams will start
deploying on September 3.
4. (C) While privately acknowledging that the August 29
deadline for publishing the provisional electoral list would
likely slip, the CEI waited until the decrees outlined above
were signed to announce publicly that the provisional
electoral list will not be ready until September 15. CEI
Commissioner Yacouba Bamba told Poloff on August 27 that the
commission believes elections can still take place on
November 29 if -- and only if -- there are no snags. Citing
the government's budgetary problems and erratic financing of
the electoral process to date, Bamba expressed concern that
lack of funding may prevent the CEI from completing all the
tasks which must take place before elections are held.
Technical experts at UNOCI and UNDP continue to insist that
the November 29 election date is not feasible, because the
tight deadlines do not allow adequate time to overcome
significant technical and logistical hurdles. For example,
under the election timetable, 38 days are allotted for
challenges to the provisional electoral list. If this period
is shortened, there could be a public backlash, although
estimates as to its seriousness vary.
YOU TOO CAN BE PRESIDENT - FOR 20 MILLION
--------------
5. (U) On August 25, the CEI announced the opening of the
registration period for presidential candidates. To deter
frivolous registrations, the CEI is requiring a 20 million
CFA deposit (approx $43,500) from each potential candidate.
As of September 3, the press reported that one independent
candidate, Felix Akoto Yao, and former president and PDCI
candidate Henri Konan Bedie have formally registered their
candidacies. RDR leader Alassane Ouattara, who returned to
Cote d'Ivoire September 2 from a three week stay in France,
has yet to formally register. However, according to the
electoral code, candidates will have until October 16 - 45
days prior to elections - to register.
NESBITT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL DECREES BUY ELECTORAL COMMISSION MORE
TIME
REF: A. ABIDJAN 503
B. ABIDJAN 462
Classified By: Political Officer Tanya Salseth for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (U) SUMMARY: On August 25, President Gbagbo signed
three presidential decrees that give the Independent
Electoral Commission (CEI) more time to produce and post the
provisional electoral list. Although the provisional
electoral list was originally scheduled to be published on
August 29, the CEI now says it will be ready by September 15,
and that the delay will not impact the November 29 date. In
keeping with the electoral timeline, the CEI also opened
registration for potential presidential candidates. END
SUMMARY
NEW PRESIDENTIAL DECREES
--------------
2. (U) Although the Ivoirian electoral code states that the
provisional electoral list must be published three months
before presidential elections on November 29,
election-related decrees that President Gbagbo signed on
August 25 give added flexibility to the CEI to meet this and
other deadlines. The decrees state that due to the special
post-crisis nature of these elections:
- The provisional electoral list must be posted by October
29, or at least 30 days before elections are held.
- The definitive electoral list must be posted by November
14, or at least 15 days before elections are held.
- All voter cards must be distributed by November 21, or at
least 8 days before elections are held.
PICKING UP THE PACE
--------------
3. (C) Election preparations have noticeably picked up
speed since late July when the CEI drew sharp criticism for
failing to publish a detailed electoral calendar (reftel B)
and missing the start date for processing voter registration
data. The United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI)
reported on September 2 that all 70 coordination centers are
now operational, and over half of the centers have completely
finished all data scanning and digitization operations.
SAGEM rep Fabien Rouaud told Poloff that all Abidjan data
(which represent a significant portion of the 6.5 million
petitioner forms collected during the identification process)
have been scanned, digitized, and are ready for validation.
Although the joint CEI - National Commission for the
Supervision of Identification (CNSI) teams are not yet in
place, CNSI rep Mamadou Cisse told Poloff that internal CNSI
problems have been resolved, and field teams will start
deploying on September 3.
4. (C) While privately acknowledging that the August 29
deadline for publishing the provisional electoral list would
likely slip, the CEI waited until the decrees outlined above
were signed to announce publicly that the provisional
electoral list will not be ready until September 15. CEI
Commissioner Yacouba Bamba told Poloff on August 27 that the
commission believes elections can still take place on
November 29 if -- and only if -- there are no snags. Citing
the government's budgetary problems and erratic financing of
the electoral process to date, Bamba expressed concern that
lack of funding may prevent the CEI from completing all the
tasks which must take place before elections are held.
Technical experts at UNOCI and UNDP continue to insist that
the November 29 election date is not feasible, because the
tight deadlines do not allow adequate time to overcome
significant technical and logistical hurdles. For example,
under the election timetable, 38 days are allotted for
challenges to the provisional electoral list. If this period
is shortened, there could be a public backlash, although
estimates as to its seriousness vary.
YOU TOO CAN BE PRESIDENT - FOR 20 MILLION
--------------
5. (U) On August 25, the CEI announced the opening of the
registration period for presidential candidates. To deter
frivolous registrations, the CEI is requiring a 20 million
CFA deposit (approx $43,500) from each potential candidate.
As of September 3, the press reported that one independent
candidate, Felix Akoto Yao, and former president and PDCI
candidate Henri Konan Bedie have formally registered their
candidacies. RDR leader Alassane Ouattara, who returned to
Cote d'Ivoire September 2 from a three week stay in France,
has yet to formally register. However, according to the
electoral code, candidates will have until October 16 - 45
days prior to elections - to register.
NESBITT