Cote d'Ivoire

Alassane Ouattara won a second term in the October 2015 presidential elections, deemed free and fair by international observers—another step towards recovery from the 2010-2011 post-election crisis. In the lead-up to the elections, however, the government’s prohibition of several opposition protests, and the subsequent arrest of dozens of would-be demonstrators, threatened freedom of assembly. The Ivorian judiciary has made progress in investigating atrocities committed during the 2010-2011 crisis, although concerns remain about the government’s willingness to credibly prosecute pro-Ouattara forces. Extortion and racketeering by security forces remain widespread and corruption is still a problem at all levels of government.