H.E Yemi.Osinbajo Rallies Stakeholders Ahead of Côte d’Ivoire 2025 Polls, Reaffirms AU-ECOWAS Support for Peaceful Elections.
By Raymond Enoch.
As Côte d’Ivoire braces for a crucial presidential election slated for October 25, 2025, the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have stepped up their presence and support for a peaceful democratic process. Leading this effort is H.E. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria, who officially commenced his mission as Head of the AU-ECOWAS Joint Election Observation Mission in Abidjan on October 20.
In the days following his arrival, Prof. Osinbajo — accompanied by high-level officials including H.E. Baboucarr Blaise Ismaïla Jagne (Deputy Head of Mission) and Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah (ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security) — held strategic meetings with key electoral stakeholders and civil society actors.
During engagements with presidential candidate Mr. Ahou Don Melo, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yapi Koffi Evariste, and electoral authorities including Mr. Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), Prof. Osinbajo emphasized the unwavering commitment of both the AU and ECOWAS to safeguarding democratic integrity in the region.
“ECOWAS and the African Union are ready to support Côte d’Ivoire to ensure that the election on October 25, 2025, is free, peaceful, and transparent, as evidenced by the presence of more than 250 observers deployed by the two organizations,” Osinbajo stated.
He further met with Mr. René Bourgoin, President of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), reinforcing the critical role of the media in promoting fair and peaceful election coverage.
The Mission is working closely with ECOWAS technical experts, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), and local civil society groups to monitor the political atmosphere and electoral readiness.
With the stakes high and tensions simmering in certain quarters, the deployment of over 250 trained observers by the AU and ECOWAS is being hailed as a major step toward ensuring accountability, transparency, and confidence in the electoral process.
Prof. Osinbajo’s diplomatic and strategic engagements in Abidjan signal a coordinated regional effort to support democratic consolidation not just in Côte d’Ivoire, but across West Africa.
As the election approaches, all eyes remain on Côte d’Ivoire — a country with a complex political history — with hopes that the upcoming vote will mark a positive chapter for its democratic journey.
