Ivory Coast: difficulties during enrollment operations

Text by: RFI Follow

These operations aim to replace the old cards massively drawn up in 2009 with new ones, as well as to enroll the new adults or to naturalize them. A primordial enrollment, since it will be necessary to have this card to register on the electoral lists for the presidential election in October.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Abidjan, Pierre Pinto

Eleven million people targeted, but only 118 enrollment centers across the country. Inevitably, these centers are invaded at dawn. With an average enrollment time of 15 or 20 minutes per person, the wait is long, especially when IT gets involved.

In Marcory, for example, a commune in Abidjan, the enrollment machines have not worked since Friday. “ Thursday was crowded and I couldn't get past the closing time. We were told to come back on Friday. And the same Friday. And that's where the device failure problems started. Unfortunately, at 4 p.m., we returned and they told us to come back today Monday. You find me there, and I couldn't get enlisted for the same problem, ”said a woman in the queue.

The price of the stamp

A little further, a man confides his desire to go after enrollment: " As a good citizen, I want to have my identity card first. Then compared to the October elections , if you do not have your identity document, you cannot vote. This is why it is important to me as an Ivorian. I paid the stamp 5,000 CFA francs [7.62 euros]. So I have to enlist. "

The delays, the price of the stamp, the few enrollment centers, this identity card has fueled many controversies for several months. “ Imagine during the countryside, people who have to move from their village. First, the 5,000 francs must be paid. Pay for transportation and get to town now. To be told that the machines are not working. It is hard to imagine. We are told that this is a start, that it will improve afterwards. But when you look at all these difficulties, you have to try to solve them. We do not see this beginning of a solution, ”explains a slightly disillusioned citizen.

Last week, government spokesman Sidi Touré admitted that the number of centers was indeed insufficient and indicated that the Ministry of Territorial Administration was working on the issue.

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