Keypoints:
- ECOWAS sends mission for 2025 elections
- Delegation to assess political readiness
- Meetings planned with key stakeholders
THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a pre-election fact-finding mission to Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of the country’s 2025 presidential elections. The deployment, taking place from June 29 to July 5, 2025, is part of ECOWAS’s effort to promote democratic governance and political stability in the region.
According to an official statement from the ECOWAS Commission, the mission is being conducted under Article 12 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and Article 53(C) of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework. It also follows the decision of the bloc’s Conference of Heads of State and Government to send such missions in a timely manner.
High-level delegation leads regional effort
The delegation is headed by Professor Theodore Holo, former president of the Constitutional Court of Benin. It includes ten members, among them Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Adjovi Yekpe, Benin’s Ambassador to ECOWAS.
Supporting the mission are electoral experts from across West Africa and a technical team led by Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire.
During the mission, the team will meet with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), and the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA). The delegation will also engage with ruling and opposition political parties, as well as civil society organisations.
Gauging readiness and political atmosphere
The ECOWAS team is tasked with evaluating key aspects of Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral preparations. The mission will:
- Gather all legal frameworks related to the 2025 presidential election
- Engage with the electoral commission, political leaders, and civic groups
- Examine conditions under which the vote will take place
- Collect information on political alliances and campaign dynamics
- Assess the general political climate and institutional preparedness
Upon conclusion of the mission, a report will be compiled detailing the team’s observations and providing recommendations to the ECOWAS Commission. These insights are expected to guide future regional support and ensure that Côte d’Ivoire’s election process meets international standards.
ECOWAS reinforces commitment to democracy
This intervention marks a continued show of commitment by ECOWAS to safeguarding democratic principles and reducing the risk of post-electoral disputes across the region. Côte d’Ivoire’s upcoming vote is seen as a key test of political maturity, given the country’s complex electoral history.
The ECOWAS Commission reiterated in its June 28, 2025, statement that it remains committed to working with Ivorian authorities and all stakeholders to ensure the election is held in a peaceful, credible, and transparent manner.
