Ivory Coast opposition rejects electoral reforms

Ivory Coast’s opposition has rejected the government’s plan to reform the electoral commission ahead of next week’s election

It maintains it will boycott the elections.

President Alassane Ouattara is vying for a controversial third term. His candidature has caused unrest in the country.

The UN has expressed concern over ongoing violence that has in recent days left at least seven people dead and more than 40 injured, according to the authorities.

“Opposition candidates are maintaining their policy of civil disobedience and reiterate their request for international mediation,” Maurice Kakou Guikahue, a spokesperson for the opposition, told reporters on Thursday.

The two main opposition candidates – former President, Henri Konan Bédié, and former Prime Minister, Pascal Affi N’Guessan – announced the boycott earlier in the month.

They asked their supporters to block what they described as an electoral coup.