Tensions Boil Over in Côte d’Ivoire as Protests Erupt Against Fourth-Term Bid and Opposition Bans
Mounting unrest grips Côte d’Ivoire as opposition leaders are barred from contesting the October election, sparking protests against President Ouattara’s controversial fourth-term bid
- Opposition leaders barred from October 2025 presidential race spark nationwide protests.
- President Ouattara's decision to seek a fourth term intensifies political tension.
- Security forces arrest opposition members amid rising fears of election-related violence.
Political unrest is surging in Côte d’Ivoire as opposition protests intensify following President Alassane Ouattara’s declaration to run for a controversial fourth term.
Demonstrations broke out across the country over the weekend, sparking violent clashes and a series of arrests that have deepened the nation’s political divide ahead of the October 25 presidential election.
The situation escalated after several prominent opposition leaders—including former President Laurent Gbagbo of the PPA-CI and former banker Tidjane Thiam of the PDCI—were barred from contesting the polls by court rulings. On Sunday, the African People’s Party (PPA-CI) reported that six of its members were arrested under unclear circumstances, describing the incident as a “wave of repression.”
“This is a coordinated attempt to silence our movement,” said Sébastien Dano Djédjé, executive president of PPA-CI, during a press conference in Abidjan. He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained activists, including one sitting substitute deputy.
Meanwhile, Côte d’Ivoire’s Interior Minister Vagondo Diomandé confirmed that 11 individuals were detained in connection with violence in the Yopougon district. The Democratic Party (PDCI-RDA) also raised alarm over the arrest of six of its youth leaders earlier last week, calling the arrests “deeply troubling.”
Adding to the political uncertainty is President Ouattara’s decision to run again, despite prior signals that he would not seek re-election. Critics say this, combined with the exclusion of major opposition candidates such as Charles Blé Goudé and exiled Guillaume Soro, undermines the country’s democratic foundations.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has stepped into the fray, urging a “fair and inclusive” election process. Archbishop Jacques Ahiwa of Bouaké expressed concern over the lack of political plurality and warned of a return to violence if steps are not taken to promote open dialogue and peaceful resolution.
“There is real fear among the people,” the archbishop noted. “We must act now to prevent chaos and preserve peace.”
As the October vote nears, Côte d’Ivoire faces a critical test of its democratic maturity—and whether its leaders can uphold stability in a climate of rising political tension.
