KABUL – Key reforms enacted since widespread fraud marred Afghanistan’s 2009 and 2010 polls have brought about a guarded optimism among political and civic leaders that next year’s presidential and provincial council elections will be better, according to the findings of a pre-election assessment mission fielded by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

ABIDJAN – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is fielding an international delegation at the invitation of the Ivorian government to assess preparations for Cote d’Ivoire’s 2015 presidential election. The group, which will arrive Dec. 8 and is being welcomed by all Ivorian political parties, includes political and civic leaders, and election and regional experts from North America, Europe and Africa.