Abidjan, 15 May-(ANA)-Ivory Coast's prime minister said his country will hold a long-delayed presidential election on Nov. 29, calling the timing "realistic", but analysts warned the date might slip like others set to end years of crisis.
The poll is meant to reunite the world's top cocoa grower after a brief 2002-2003 war left the north of the country in the hands of rebels. Previous election deadlines have slipped during a tortuous United Nations-backed peace process.
Polls are seen as a necessary precursor for reforms of the cocoa sector, which provides 40 percent of global supply but is struggling with ageing plantations, lagging interest amongst farmers and allegations of corrupt administrators.
"Nov. 29 is a realistic date. We think we have more clarity and visibility on the electoral process," Prime Minister Guillaume Soro said after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
The last date given by the Ivorian authorities for a poll was Nov. 30, 2008, but that was missed as voter identification started late and has since been bogged down by financial constraints and rows over procedures.(ANA)
