On Wednesday, May 6, 2026 , the Ivorian institutional landscape experienced a major political earthquake. Following the Council of Ministers meeting chaired by the Head of State, Alassane Ouattara, the government officially announced the dissolution of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) .

The end of a historical cycle

Led by government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly, this radical decision takes the form of an ordinance attached to the Ministry of the Interior and Security. It brings to an end nearly 25 years of existence for the institution, initially created by the law of October 2001.

The dissolution of the CIS is justified by two key factors:

1. The closing of the previous electoral cycle , marking a period of natural transition.
2. The need to respond to criticism , as the body has regularly been the target of reservations expressed by the political class and civil society regarding its impartiality and effectiveness.

Restoring trust: the challenge of the new era

The executive branch's stated ambition is clear: to start afresh to guarantee indisputable future elections. The government wishes to establish an electoral management mechanism that is:

1. More inclusive with regard to different political actors.
2. More credible in the eyes of the Ivorian people.
3. A source of stability to ensure peaceful electoral periods.

"The goal is to sustainably consolidate trust in the electoral process and guarantee the transparency of the votes."

What's next for the electoral transition?

While the dissolution is immediate, the future structure of the electoral administration remains to be defined. In the coming weeks, a series of regulatory texts will clarify:

1. The outlines of the new structure that will succeed the CIS.
2. The implementation schedule for this reform.
3. The technical modalities of the institutional transition.

This decision marks a decisive turning point in the government's desire to modernize Ivorian democracy and to permanently ease tensions related to the ballot box.