Ivory Coast election

Ivory Coast will hold overdue presidential elections on Oct. 31.
Since a failed coup in 2002, the Ivory Coast has been divided between a rebel-controlled north and government-control in the south. The elections in 2005 were cancelled, because of the civil war and the incumbent Gbagbo remained in power. Peace accords in 2007 brought rebels into a power-sharing government.
Disagreements over voter registration brought the peace process to a standstill and elections dates could not be agreed and enforced.
There remains a significant risk that this new date may also fall by the wayside.
The peace process faltered in February, when the President unilaterally dissolved the government and electoral commission, amid allegations hundreds of thousands of foreigners had been included on voter rolls. This led to three weeks of violent opposition demonstrations which left at least five people dead.

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