The Pan-African Platform of Women and Youth for Peace, Democracy, and Governance (2Pfj) is advocating for the initiation of an inclusive, participatory, and constructive political dialogue aimed at implementing sustainable electoral reforms across Côte d’Ivoire. This crucial stance was communicated in a declaration received on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
According to the platform, it is imperative to conduct a clear-eyed assessment of the Ivorian socio-political landscape, which has been profoundly impacted by past crises, leaving deep scars on the populace. The organization firmly believes that reforming electoral governance, a process fundamental to the Republic and its democratic principles, cannot be reduced to a mere informational briefing.
The 2Pfj therefore recommends that the government transform its current initiative into a genuine framework for negotiation and republican dialogue, bringing together all active forces within the Nation. The organization stresses that the future body responsible for managing elections must emerge from a national consensus to foster trust among all involved parties.
In pursuit of this objective, the platform also proposes the establishment of joint technical commissions, comprising representatives from the government, the opposition, and civil society.
These commissions would be tasked with defining the responsibilities, financial autonomy, and independence of the three new proposed bodies, or any other institutional structure that may ultimately be adopted.
These critical recommendations are outlined in the document endorsed by Jean-Martial N’Guessan, who serves as the president of the 2Pfj’s board of directors.
Furthermore, the platform emphasizes that a climate of trust is essential for successful discussions. To this end, it calls for the release of individuals detained in connection with politically charged cases, as well as the secure return of exiles.
The 2Pfj also urges for meaningful representation of women’s and youth organizations within future electoral bodies, aiming to bolster inclusive and peaceful civic oversight.
For the 2Pfj, the various electoral crises have severely tested the Ivorian people. However, the organization reiterates that history has repeatedly shown the capacity of Ivorians to overcome their differences when the Nation’s supreme interest is at stake.
Electoral governance reform, in its view, presents a pivotal opportunity to unite citizens around a shared goal: constructing a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous Côte d’Ivoire.
It is recalled that following the dissolution of the former Independent Electoral Commission (Cei), the Ivorian government convened a significant working session on June 22, 2026. This meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, was presented as an expanded information session and gathered political parties, movements, and civil society organizations to explore avenues for electoral system reform and achieve lasting solutions.
