Security Updates

Ghana, a beacon of a well-functioning democracy in a region that has recently experienced political instability, held its presidential and parliamentary elections on Monday 7 December 2020 in a vote that is expected to be a tight race between two veteran leaders. Incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo is seeking re-election for a second term in office and faces a challenge from former President John Mahama. Ghanaians also voted in parliamentary elections on Monday for 275 members of parliament.

Unrest was reported across the Ivory Coast on Saturday 31 October as polling stations opened for the presidential election. On the ground reports have indicated that road blockages, traffic disruption and violent and unruly protests were reported in multiple urban centres. There were also reports of looting and vandalism targeting local Electoral Commission (CEI) offices. The most significant unrest on Saturday occurred in Abidjan, with several people reported killed.

Ivory Coast is set to hold its presidential election on Saturday 31 October. Due to a call for civil disobedience by opposition leaders, unrest is anticipated across the country in the lead up, during and after the election.

On 24 October, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) declared President Alpha Condé the winner of the 18 October presidential election, confirming that the incumbent won an absolute majority in the first round of voting.

Polls closed and vote counting began in Guinea on Sunday evening following a largely peaceful day, with voters deciding whether to give 82-year-old President Alpha Condé a controversial third term in office, which was made possible by a constitutional change in March 2020.