Historic Ivory Coast Vote Begins
- 14 years ago
Millions of Ivorians head to the polls to vote in a historic presidential election. Hopes are running high for reuniting the war-torn country.
Presidential candidates cast their votes as millions head to the polls in the Ivory Coast.
In Abidjan, presidential hopeful Henri Konan Bedie casts his ballot, hoping to return to the position he held before being ousted in a 1999 coup.
Elsewhere in the city, rival and former prime minister, Alassane Ouattara also placed his vote.
The election has so far been peaceful, but Ouattara continued to appeal for calm.
[Alassane Ouattara, Presidential Candidate]:
"I am very happy to have voted, it's a citizen's duty, and I ask of all my countrymen to vote in peace. That's what our country needs most, not only for the day of the election, but also for the days following the elections."
Almost 6 million people headed to polling stations across the country.
They will decide who, out of Ouattara, Bedie, and incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo will be their next leader.
Some polling stations were late opening, forcing voters to form long queues.
But that didn't dampen their optimism.
[Kwasi Cedric Kwame, Voter]:
it's a historic moment, we have been waiting for this for a long time, and thank God the moment has arrived. No matter how long it takes, we will wait here to be able to vote."
Ivorians hope that the election – which has been postponed 6 times in 5 years – will reunite a nation split in 2 by war.
Preliminary results from the 20,000 polling stations should be announced within 3 days.
But analysts predict the election won't result in a clear winner, forcing a possible run-off on November 28.
Presidential candidates cast their votes as millions head to the polls in the Ivory Coast.
In Abidjan, presidential hopeful Henri Konan Bedie casts his ballot, hoping to return to the position he held before being ousted in a 1999 coup.
Elsewhere in the city, rival and former prime minister, Alassane Ouattara also placed his vote.
The election has so far been peaceful, but Ouattara continued to appeal for calm.
[Alassane Ouattara, Presidential Candidate]:
"I am very happy to have voted, it's a citizen's duty, and I ask of all my countrymen to vote in peace. That's what our country needs most, not only for the day of the election, but also for the days following the elections."
Almost 6 million people headed to polling stations across the country.
They will decide who, out of Ouattara, Bedie, and incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo will be their next leader.
Some polling stations were late opening, forcing voters to form long queues.
But that didn't dampen their optimism.
[Kwasi Cedric Kwame, Voter]:
it's a historic moment, we have been waiting for this for a long time, and thank God the moment has arrived. No matter how long it takes, we will wait here to be able to vote."
Ivorians hope that the election – which has been postponed 6 times in 5 years – will reunite a nation split in 2 by war.
Preliminary results from the 20,000 polling stations should be announced within 3 days.
But analysts predict the election won't result in a clear winner, forcing a possible run-off on November 28.