Main opposition sweeps municipal polls

Cote d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, le Rassemblement des republicains (RDR), brushed aside challengers in Sunday’s municipal polls, winning 64 of the 197 mayoral seats so far declared across the country, the National Electoral Commission reported. The results of two more towns are still due.

RDR captured the mayor’s seat in several western and central towns, untill now considered strongholds of the ruling Front populaire ivoirien and the one-time single-ruling Parti democratique de Cote d’Ivoire.

The RDR is generally considered a party of the north because of its supposed strength drawn almost exclusively from Muslims in this part of the country. Yet, RDR spokesman Ali Keita told IRIN on Wednesday, the victory was not surprising given that the party remained national in outlook and “does not promote xenophobia, tribalism and religion”.

RDR, he said, had always been at the political forefront in denouncing irregularities and unfairness even when it boycotted the presidential and legislative elections. It opted out of the October and December 2000 polls, in protest at the Supreme Court ruling that party leader Alassane Ouattara was ineligible to run because of his doubtful Ivorian nationality. In both instances, violence broke out leaving at least 200 people dead and scores wounded. Since these incidents, the government has been calling for reconciliation.

Keita said the RDR wanted reconciliation, pointing to the party’s campaign slogan: “Live Together!”, adding that truth, forgiveness and the end to impunity were essential criteria in the restoration of social and political peace.