February/March Elections Unlikely To Take Place

Government officials announced on 11 February 2010 that the voter registration process, including the legal review of preliminary electoral rolls, has been suspended indefinitely due to security concerns stemming from rising social and political tensions as well as increasingly violent protests and incidents throughout the country. Elections had been expected to take place in late February or early March 2010; however, the recent moves make it unlikely that the deadline will be met. Opposition groups and former rebel leaders have accused President Laurent Gbagbo of stalling elections and have warned that the country could return to civil unrest if there are further election delays.