contributed by Carrie Reiling
On October 30, Côte dʼIvoire voted to adopt a new constitution that would change the eligibility conditions for the presidency, the most notable of which was the citizenship clause that was at the center of the Ivorian electoral crisis from 2002 to 2011. Despite opposition protests against the short timeline (the text was unveiled only 25 days before the vote), which were quickly quelled through tear gas and arrests, the vote went forward and easily passed with 93 percent.
Though many, both within Côte dʼIvoire and internationally, believe that the changes to the constitution were needed, political experts and activists alike objected to the non-democratic nature of President Ouattara’s plan, which seemed orchestrated to tamp down opposition, a move that will not lead to the intended peace and reconciliation aims of the constitutional reforms.
