The United Nations is calling for calm and transparency as Côte d’Ivoire prepares for its presidential election on October 25.

Leonardo Santos Simão, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, made the appeal on September 22 after discussions with the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

The talks, held at the IEC headquarters in Abidjan-Cocody, were chaired by Commission president Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert. The meeting brought together representatives of political parties, civil society groups, and regional partners.

Simão stressed that free, fair, and peaceful elections are essential to stability and development in Côte d’Ivoire.