ECOWAS Deploys Long-Term Mission to Observe Côte d’Ivoire’s October Presidential Election

By Joylinda Laryea / 12 October 2025

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed a Long-Term Election Observation Mission (LTOM) to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the country’s presidential election slated for October 25, 2025.

The 15-member team of electoral experts drawn from across ECOWAS member states arrived in Abidjan on Thursday, October 2, 2025, and will remain in the country until October 29, 2025. Their mandate is to monitor the pre-electoral environment, assess the transparency and credibility of the electoral process, and support the consolidation of democratic governance in the region.

The mission was approved by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, in line with the organization’s legal and political instruments governing democratic elections and conflict prevention. These include the 1993 Revised ECOWAS Treaty, the 1999 Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace and Security, the 2001 Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and Article 53(c) of the 2008 ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework.

The LTOM is expected to engage with key electoral stakeholders, including government officials, political parties, civil society organizations, the media, and electoral management bodies. Their work will complement a Short-Term Election Observation Mission (STOM) expected to be deployed closer to election day.

ECOWAS continues to play a leading role in promoting peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections across West Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire’s upcoming vote seen as a critical test of democratic stability in the region.