I.Coast voters back new constitution: election body

By AFP

Ivory Coast The Yes camp won 93.42 percent of votes cast but most eligible voters stayed at home, with the official turnout rate put at 42.24 percent. By Sia Kambou AFPFile

NOV 1, 2016 LISTEN

The "Yes" camp won 93.42 percent of votes cast but most eligible voters stayed at home, with the official turnout rate put at 42.24 percent. By Sia Kambou (AFP/File)

Abidjan (AFP) - Voters in Ivory Coast have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution, the electoral commission announced late Tuesday, though turnout was low following an opposition boycott.

The "Yes" camp won 93.42 percent of votes cast but most eligible voters stayed at home, with the official turnout rate put at 42.24 percent.

The result of Sunday's referendum, which President Alassane Ouattara has said will help end years of instability and unrest linked to the vexed issue of national identity, had never been in doubt.