Côte d’Ivoire: Release of opposition activists highlights democratic tensions ahead of presidential election
Amid rising political tensions ahead of October 25 presidential election of Côte d’Ivoire, the release of 18 activists from the Parti des peuples Africains– Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) (African Peoples’ Party) has cast a spotlight on the country’s persistent democratic challenges.
The activists, arrested between August and September in cities including Abidjan, Daloa, and Bonoua on charges of “disturbing public order,” were detained for several days before being freed.
A ceremony held on September 18 at the party’s headquarters in Abidjan provided a platform for executive president Sébastien Dano Djédjé to condemn what he described as targeted political repression.
The arrests come at a sensitive time for the opposition. The PPA-CI’s founder, former president Laurent Gbagbo, was barred from the presidential race by the Constitutional Council, fueling perceptions of a tightly controlled political environment.
Analysts warn that restricting political freedoms and suppressing dissent could undermine institutional stability and the credibility of the electoral process.
In the long term, such actions may tarnish the country’s democratic image, deter foreign investment, and weaken social cohesion.
An open and peaceful democratic process remains essential to sustaining economic and social development.
Ange BLIGAN
