Tension before Ivory Coast elections

The West African nation of Ivory Coast is seeing pockets of violence ahead of this weekend’s election, with analysts worried about further clashes. Opposition parties announced a boycott of the election and urged civil disobedience among their supporters. In 2010, the nation plunged into a bitter civil war that divided the country into two, north and south, after then-president Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to rival Alassane Ouattara. The conflict killed more than three thousand people. Since then, the nation has seen a dramatic change. Under his two terms, Ouattara has overseen strong economic growth, as well as security reforms and improvements in livelihoods. However, instead of stepping down this year, he is running for a third term.

We speak to:

• Brian Kagoro is a Pan Africanist and lawyer

• Professor Bhekithemba Mngomezulu, political analyst