Overview
- Polling stations in Abidjan opened an hour late after torrential rain, delaying the start of voting in the economic capital.
- President Alassane Ouattara’s RHDP currently controls the 255-seat National Assembly and fielded high-profile candidates including Prime Minister Robert Beugre Mambe and Defence Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara.
- Former president Laurent Gbagbo’s PPA-CI boycotted the legislative race, though about 20 party members still stood as candidates.
- The PDCI led by Tidjane Thiam participated, while its spokesman Soumaila Bredoumy remained in detention on terrorism and state-plotting accusations announced in November.
- The election comes two months after Ouattara secured a fourth term with nearly 90% in a vote that excluded most opposition figures and was followed by violence and arrests.