As Ivory Coast approaches its 2025 presidential election, the Youth Parliament of the Guémon region has committed to promoting social cohesion and preventing electoral violence.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Samuel Kouamé Kouakou, president of the Guémon Youth Parliament, called on young people to reject all forms of violence, destruction, and political manipulation.
The meeting brought together administrative authorities, traditional leaders, the delegated mediator of the Guémon region, and representatives of women’s and youth organisations.
“We must work together to ensure that the upcoming elections are peaceful,” Mr Kouakou said.
“Hate speech and abuses on social media can undermine our efforts and inflict psychological, emotional, and physical harm on our communities. It is our duty to prevent this.”
He emphasised that collaboration with all regional stakeholders is essential to safeguarding peace.
“The youth of Guémon, whom I represent, will not be a vector of violence. We will act as agents of stability and social cohesion,” Mr Kouakou added.
The initiative reflects growing concern in Ivory Coast over potential tensions during elections, especially in regions with significant youth populations.
Experts have repeatedly stressed that engaging young people in dialogue and peacebuilding activities is critical to mitigating risks of unrest.
Local authorities welcomed the commitment, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to prevent electoral conflicts.
They stressed that youth engagement, combined with vigilance from community leaders, can play a decisive role in ensuring that elections remain free from violence and manipulation.
As the presidential vote approaches, Ivory Coast faces both the opportunity to strengthen democratic processes and the challenge of maintaining national unity.
The Guémon Youth Parliament’s pledge underscores a broader effort to encourage responsible political participation, where young people become champions of peace rather than participants in conflict.
With less than a month to go before the polls, stakeholders in Guémon hope this message of collaboration and nonviolence will resonate across communities, setting a tone of stability for the national elections.
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