IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1150 

Urging the Government of Coˆte d’Ivoire, opposition leaders, and all citizens 

to respect democratic principles, refrain from violence, and hold free, 

fair, transparent, and peaceful elections in October 2020. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 

Mr. PHILLIPS (for himself, Ms. BASS, and Mr. YOHO) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Urging the Government of Coˆte d’Ivoire, opposition leaders, 

and all citizens to respect democratic principles, refrain 

from violence, and hold free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections in October 2020. 

Whereas it is in the interest of the United States to maintain 

a strong relationship with a democratic, peaceful, stable, 

and economically prosperous Coˆte d’Ivoire whose leaders 

prioritize good governance, the rule of law, and respect 

for human rights; 

Whereas the United States and Coˆte d’Ivoire have a strong 

bilateral relationship with important cooperation on economic interests, regional stability, and counterterrorism 

priorities, and efforts to advance health and development 

objectives; 


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•HRES 1150 IH 

Whereas Coˆte d’Ivoire has a presidential election scheduled 

for October 31, 2020; 

Whereas previous transitions of power have been marred by 

conflict and violence against civilians, including most recently in 2010–2011, when 3,000 civilians were killed 

during an election-related dispute; 

Whereas the root causes of past political violence—including 

religious and ethnoregional tensions, contestation over 

land, politicization of the judiciary and concerns over due 

process, and a lack of professionalism, adequate training, 

and civilian control over the security forces—have not 

been adequately addressed; 

Whereas political leaders have previously manipulated and exploited religious, ethnic, and regional identities and economic grievances to incite violence including through incidents of hateful and divisive speech occurring both in 

person and online; 

Whereas President Ouattara’s decision to stand for a third 

term, despite a two-term limit in the constitution, has 

heightened tensions, and several citizens have been killed 

and dozens more injured or arrested amid protests 

against his candidacy; 

Whereas political violence in Coˆte d’Ivoire could threaten the 

region’s stability and economic development prospects, 

and undermine efforts to counter violent extremism and 

terrorist activity; 

Whereas the Government of Coˆte d’Ivoire must protect the 

health and safety of its citizens and prevent the spread 

of COVID–19 while also ensuring credible elections and 

enabling the participation of all voters; 


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•HRES 1150 IH 

Whereas the Government of the United States is deeply committed to efforts to prevent conflict and atrocities and address the root causes of fragility, as evidenced by the enactment of the Global Fragility Act of 2019 and the Elie 

Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018; 

and 

Whereas the United States Embassy in Coˆte d’Ivoire issued 

a statement on August 25, 2020, ‘‘supporting free, transparent, and inclusive elections in Coˆte d’Ivoire’’ and urging ‘‘all parties, groups and individuals to refrain from 

violence and hateful/divisive speech and to choose dialogue to find peaceful solutions to their disagreements’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms that the United States will con3 tinue to stand with the people of Coˆte d’Ivoire in 

4 support of peace, democracy, religious and ethnic 

5 tolerance, and stability; 

6 (2) calls upon the Government of Coˆte d’Ivoire 

7 and all political parties to— 

8 (A) protect all civilians from violence and 

9 support their right to peacefully demonstrate; 

10 (B) condemn all forms of hate speech and 

11 incitement of violence while maintaining citi12 zens’ open access to information; 

13 (C) publicly commit to free, fair, peaceful, 

14 and transparent elections and make clear that 

15 all Ivorians, including security forces, governVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:41 Sep 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1150.IH HR1150

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•HRES 1150 IH 

1 ment officials, political opposition members, and 

2 the media, will be held accountable for inciting 

3 or perpetrating violence; 

4 (D) support an independent investigation 

5 into the killings of civilians during demonstra6 tions; 

7 (E) support efforts to implement public 

8 health protocols to prevent further spread of 

9 COVID–19 and ensure safe participation of all 

10 voters on election day; and 

11 (F) request the electoral observation serv12 ices of the African Union or the Economic 

13 Community of West African States, and grant 

14 full access to election observers; 

15 (3) encourages civil society organizations, local 

16 communities, and religious leaders to— 

17 (A) remain united in calls for peace, non18 violence, tolerance, and democracy; and 

19 (B) work to educate voters about the elec20 toral process in order to combat disinformation 

21 and violence; and 

22 (4) calls upon the United States Government 

23 and international partners to— 

24 (A) continue to condemn violence against 

25 peaceful demonstrators and hate speech that 


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•HRES 1150 IH 

1 promotes such actions, including posts on social 

2 media, and urge all political parties to publicly 

3 commit to free, fair, peaceful, and transparent 

4 elections; 

5 (B) continue to support election prepara6 tion efforts, including through assistance to the 

7 Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), ca8 pacity building for civil society and local lead9 ers, voter education programs, development of 

10 election day protocols, violence prevention pro11 grams, support for election observation, and 

12 human rights and atrocities prevention moni13 toring; and 

14 (C) call for and support an independent in15 vestigation into the killings of civilians during 

16 demonstrations. 

Æ 


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