The purpose of elections in a country is to bring about change and hope to the citizens of that state. It is sad when there is violence after or during the elections. Most of the African countries tend to end their elections in violence and this needs to change. In 2007, Kenya was a victim of post-election violence and many people lost their lives. It is a time that Kenyans will always remember and be vigilant in coming elections so that the repeat of the same will not happen again.
Causes of Post Election Violence
There are many causes of violence after a country has conducted its elections especially the presidential elections. The most common cause is due to political differences and ethnicity. It brings about ethnopolitical conflicts whereby different ethnic groups may clash due to political reasons.
Impacts of Post Election Violence
After violence has happened to a country, it leaves marks that may be permanent on people. Some of the effects of violence are death, lack of peace, political instability, loss of homes, and fear.
Concerning fear, Ivory Coast experienced a political crisis in 2010 which left many people in anxiety and trauma.
The 2010-2011 Ivorian Crisis
The 2010-2011 Ivorian crisis was a political problem in Cote d’Ivoire that started after the electoral body announced Gbagbo as the winner. Alassane Ouattara, the opposition candidate, states, organizations, and leaders claimed Alassane had won. The Ouattara forces that had the support of the French forces arrested Gbagbo in 2011 and this was a great step in bringing an end to the political crisis.
The western region of the country was one of the top hotspots of the crisis and it left many people in fear. There, we find a mass grave of over 10 people whom people buried in the Carrefour area of Duekoue. Duekoue is a major city in the western region of Cote d’Ivoire.
What a Resident of Carrefour is Saying
Anon says:
“We do not have an ethnicity problem. Ivory Coast itself does not have an ethnicity problem. It was the politicians who sent us political problems. When people come with sentences like ‘it is because I am such and such that they do not want me to be a candidate’. When the other one says ‘yes I am Ivorian’. That’s what started these problems. Here we lived in perfect harmony.”
2020 Ivorian Presidential Elections
Ivory Coast plans to conduct its elections on 31st October this year. Last month, the Constitutional Council approved Ouattara, Henri Konan Bédié, Pascal Affi N’Guessan, and Kouadio Konan Bertin. The Council invalidated Laurent Gbagbo and former PM Guillaume Soro as they are facing criminal charges. This ruling resulted in violent demonstrations.
As it is remaining about a week for Ivory Coast to conduct its presidential elections, people are hoping for a peaceful end. The inhabitants of the Western region pray that the same political crisis a decade ago will not happen again. We all have a responsibility to ensure peace in our countries during elections. People should not tolerate political leaders who try to incite the youth and use them as tools of violence.
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