Although the electoral campaign hasn’t officially started yet, things are already heating up in the country. When President Ouattara announced his willingness to accomplish another mandate even though he already achieved the maximum amount of terms allowed by the constitution, several demonstrations took place in the country. About one hundred citizens were hurt, and eight people died during the protests in August 2020.

These recent events raise concerns about the situation of the country during the rest of the elections. Of course, everybody has in minds the dramatic events that occurred in the aftermaths of the presidential elections of 2010. While the country was experiencing a civil war that caused the death of more than 3 000 persons, markets were also heavily disrupted. Commodities were used as an instrument to undermine the opponent: as Laurent Gbagbo refused to admit his defeat at the elections, the internationally recognized winner, Alassane Ouattara decided to ban exports of several commodities including cashew nuts. It affected worldwide markets. Cashew nut prices doubled in Nigeria from 600$ to 1,200$ because buyers did not know how long the crisis would last and feared that supply would be insufficient.

Today, the controversial candidacies of the three former presidents that already competed for the position in 2010, are worrying the international scene. Violence is intensifying between supporters of the (potential) candidates. Many are afraid that the country could lose its weak stability despite the measures taken by the government to limit demonstrations. If it were to happen, commodity markets could be heavily disrupted.