Thousands of Ivorians took to the streets of Abidjan on Saturday to protest the exclusion of opposition leaders from the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October. Ivory Coast, the largest economy in francophone West Africa, has barred four major opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, from contesting.
The protesters gathered in Yopougon, a densely populated suburb of the capital, carrying banners with messages such as “Enough is enough!”, “No true democracy without true justice,” and “We are millions saying YES to Gbagbo and Thiam.” Earlier this year, Gbagbo and Thiam formed an alliance to challenge incumbent President Alassane Ouattara.
Last month, the 83-year-old Ouattara announced he would seek a fourth term, a decision widely contested after he removed presidential term limits through constitutional changes in 2016. Activist Sagesse Divine, who joined the protest, said the demonstrators want the electoral roll revised, the inclusion of all candidates’ names, and peaceful elections.
There was no immediate response from the Ivorian authorities. Thiam, who leads the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, won his party’s primary unopposed but was barred from running because he held French citizenship at the time he declared his candidacy, even though he later renounced it. Ivorian law prohibits dual nationals from contesting the presidency.
Ivory Coast’s elections have often been marred by tension and violence, including deadly unrest during Ouattara’s bid for a third term. Ouattara joins a growing list of West African leaders who have extended their time in power by altering constitutional limits, a trend that has fuelled instability and prompted coups in the region.Ouattara has defended his decision to run again, citing serious security, economic, and monetary challenges that he believes require experienced leadership.
