Côte d'Ivoire: distribution of new identity cards is experiencing difficulties
So far only 2.5 million Ivorians have been enrolled and a little over a million cards distributed.
(illustrative image).
REUTERS / Thierry Gouegnon
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
By initiating enrollment for the new national identity cards a year ago, Oneci, the National Civil Status and Identification Office, targeted 11 million people in the first two years.
So far, only 2.5 million Ivorians have been enrolled and just over a million cards distributed.
Distributions that are not without difficulties either.
And the old cards will no longer be valid after June 30.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan,
Pierre Pinto
In the courtyard of the Oneci premises in the Plateau, more than 200 people are waiting that morning to be able to collect their new national identity card.
All have received the famous text message telling them that their card is ready.
Yet many are those who leave without.
“
I received a message from Oneci for the withdrawal of my identity document and since 4 am, I rushed to the scene to collect my identity document.
But until then, I haven't got my part.
At the last minute, someone comes to tell me that they cannot be found.
I have to go to work, I wasted my day, I wasted transportation coming here.
I have to go home empty-handed, without my coin.
I don't intend to come back here anymore, it's a financial mess ...
"
► To read: The national identity card crystallizes the debates in Côte d'Ivoire
In addition to the hiccups in the distribution, Oneci experienced difficulties in the manufacture causing very long delays between the enrollment and the distribution of the card.
Six months of waiting for this lady.
"
I am here to withdraw my card, but there I see the world and I don't think I have it today.
I got enlisted in August 2020.
”
Contacted by RFI, the management of Oneci was not available to respond to our requests for details.
But this low yield could have several explanations: the pandemic, the drop in attendance at enrollment centers or even technical difficulties.
Oneci now claims to be able to produce 500,000 cards per month.
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Ivory Coast