Alassane Ouattara campaigning for the Ivorian presidency

© RHDP/afrol News

afrol News, 2 December - Opposition leader Alassane Ouattara has been declared the winner of Sunday's run-off elections in Côte d'Ivoire, receiving 54.1 percent of the votes. President Laurent Gbagbo does not accept defeat.

The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), after much delay and interference by President Gbagbo's party, finally has presented the official results of Côte d'Ivoire's presidential elections. Somewhat surprisingly, northerner Alassane Ouattara was declared winner and the next President of Côte d'Ivoire.

The CEI announcement was made possible after an intervention from the international community, which demanded the ruling party to give up its blockade of the Commission.

President Gbagbo has already announced he will not accept the results from the north of the country, referring them to the Constitutional Court. This is the stronghold of Mr Ouattara, which since the 2002 civil war has been controlled by the rebel Forces Nouvelles. According to the ruling party, the former rebels had forced voters to support Mr Ouattara.

In addition to blocking the CEI offices since yesterday, supporters of President Gbagbo's party today attacked the Abidjan offices of Mr Ouattara's party.

The attack produced deadly clashes, reportedly leaving 8 dead and tens of injured. The 9,000 UN peacekeepers stationed in Côte d'Ivoire are now trying to calm the situation in Abidjan.

The Ivorian Constitutional Court has already declared it will look into the election results, reacting to the very much delayed announcement by the CEI and the possible influence of political pressure on the CEI. The Court probably also will look into President Gbagbo's fraud allegations.

President Gbagbo, who has been in power since 2000, gained most votes in the first poll round. However, the candidates defeated in that round mostly threw in their support to Mr Ouattara.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

UN will not monitor human rights in Western Sahara afrol News - The US has backed down on its demand that UN peacekeepers in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara also shall monitor the human rights situation after Moroccan sources threatened to scale down relations with Washington. Read more

Central African Republic

Central African Republic falling apart afrol News - One month after the rebel movement Séléka took over power in the Central African Republic, unrest is spreading in the country. The new leader lacks control of his forces, which continue looting and abusing civilians. Read more

Kenya

Kenyatta secures tight victory in Kenya afrol News - The official election results in Kenya have finally been announced, and Uhuru Kenyatta managed to win the first poll round outright with a narrow 50.7 percent. But the main opponent, PM Raila Odinga, is filing a vote rigging complaint to the courts. Read more

Cape Verde Cape Verde to produce dragon fruit afrol News - Cape Verde authorities have invested large sums to diversify the arid country's agricultural sector. Now, the dragon fruit, originating in tropical America, is being introduced for the first commercial production in Africa. Read more

Egypt Even governors in Pharaonic Egypt died in their 20s afrol News - Researchers have analysed more than 200 mummies from ancient Egypt, finding that even high dignitaries were poorly nourished and had infectious diseases. The typical governor in Pharaonic Egypt died before he was 30 years old. Read more