Abidjan, Ivory Coast – In the working-class neighbourhood of Yopougon in Abidjan, at the famous Sapeurs-Pompiers crossroad, the aroma of grilled chicken and fish wafts through the air, as food stalls compete for attention along a stretch of lively local eateries.

But the bustling intersection in the country’s economic capital – normally packed with crowds late into the night – now empties out much earlier than usual, as residents rush home before dark in fear of election-related violence and because of the lingering presence of two police trucks always parked nearby.

The trucks have been on patrol there every day since October 10, when the campaign for this weekend’s presidential polls began. They are among some 44,000 police and soldiers the government has deployed nationwide to, it sa

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