Ivory Coast has reaffirmed its commitment to financial independence in organizing its upcoming elections. For the October 2025 presidential vote, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has declined a €12 million funding offer from the European Union and the United Nations, according to Jeune Afrique.
This move reflects a broader shift underway in several African nations. While it has long been common for international donors—such as the EU or the UN Development Programme (UNDP)—to support electoral processes on the continent, some countries, including Ivory Coast, are increasingly questioning this practice, viewing it as a form of dependence.
With just five months to go before the election, the process is continuing despite controversy over the disqualification of several opposition leaders. On the financial front, the CEI says it has the resources to cover the estimated 54 billion CFA franc budget, making external funding unnecessary.
This is not the first time Ivorian authorities have turned down such offers. Back in 2020, Abidjan also rejected foreign financial support for its elections.