When former president of Côte d'Ivoire Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after losing a close election to Alassane Ouattara in 2010, it triggered a conflict that left over 3,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. This year, as Côte d'Ivoire prepares for presidential elections on October 25, NDI has been working with community-based organizations, such as groups of youth, women and interfaith associations, to conduct peace messaging campaigns in at-risk communities.

The groups’ message, C'est dans enjaillement que je vote (It's with excitement that I vote), invites voters to participate peacefully in the upcoming election. The campaign features well-known Ivorian comedian Le Magnific as its official ambassador and encourages citizens to vote and to view the election as an important process for the development of the country, and a moment of pride and joy for all citizens.

On October 13, the peace campaign was officially launched with the release of a music video headlined by Le Magnific urging Ivoirians to take part in the elections and to exercise tolerance and conviviality.

On October 16, NDI organized a free concert at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Cocody, Abidjan, to promote the peace campaign. Attendees, mostly students from the university, committed to working for non-violence during the presidential elections. They signed a peace pledge: “For the 2015 elections, I choose peace: I support my candidate but my country comes first.”

The peace campaign concert also featured messages from NDI Resident Director Christiane Pelchat urging students to "vote and participate peacefully in the presidential election and with enjaillement so as to ensure that everything goes well, because Cote d’Ivoire is a magnificent country.” Then, the slam poetry group Le Collectif au Nom du Slam (The Collective in the Name of Slam Poetry) warmed up the crowd before the concert’s main act -- a live performance by Le Magnific.

Using the heartbreaking loss and subsequent victory of Les Elephants -- Cote d'Ivoire’s national soccer team -- at the past two African Cup of Nations soccer tournaments as a metaphor for the power of reconciliation, Le Magnific enraptured the crowd with his deeply moving appeal for peace. He called on all the students in attendance to become ambassadors for non-violence within the university, on election day and beyond. Evoking the names of the team’s star players, Le Magnific said that “regardless of whether you are Bété, Dioula, Guerré or Agni...We all share Côte d'Ivoire our beloved country!! So let’s preserve it by going to vote in peace and in enjaillement!”

NDI has provided technical assistance to civic groups in Côte d'Ivoire to conduct peace messaging activities through social media platforms, artistic showcases and other youth-oriented activities. The Institute also assists nine grassroots organizations to conduct peace-building activities in areas that are potential flashpoints for violence around elections. These activities address specific local challenges and have also led to the creation of committees to dispel rumors, public forums where youth can peacefully express their political opinions and grievances, and market theatre productions that demonstrate the positive effects of peaceful engagement in elections.

NDI programs in Côte d'Ivoire are supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, and the United States Agency for International Development through the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.

Published on October 23, 2015