From our correspondent in Abidjan, Youenn Gourlay

Séliki Zié Koné has just been elected general secretary of the Kouto department, in the north-west of Côte d'Ivoire. But on Saturday, July 23, the ballot was marred by violence due to irregularities. Half of the 2,000 activists were not registered on the electoral list and according to the newly elected official, vandals reportedly burst in to disrupt the vote.

"The polling place was crowded when at 9 a.m., the opponent himself came in with a mob of about thirty people, these people entered the polling station, seized the ballot boxes and smashed them", the general secretary said.

In Kouto, the toll is seven minor injuries due to crowd movements. In other localities, such as Bouna in the north-east and Aboisso in the south-east, the ballot simply did not take place because of the tensions.

Séliki Zié Koné awaits a reaction and firmness from party leadership: "Why so much violence for a family election? Because in my opinion, the candidates naively think that this election will determine the choice of candidates for local elections that will take place in 2023. I hope that the party leadership will fully grasp the situation and take the necessary measures so that discipline and respect for the party are firmly established".

The RHDP steering committee is to meet this Tuesday to take stock of the situation.

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