With just days to its crucial presidential election, Ivory Coast has imposed a sweeping two-month ban on political rallies and demonstrations, a move that has drawn both domestic and international concern over the shrinking space for opposition voices in the West African nation.
The joint directive, announced late Friday by the interior and defence ministries, bars all forms of public gatherings by political parties or groups — except the five candidates officially cleared to contest the October 25 presidential poll. The restriction comes amid heightened political tension following the disqualification of two heavyweight contenders — former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Prime Minister Tidjane Thiam — both of whom were seen as major challengers to incumbent President Alassane Ouattara.
In recent weeks, protests have flared across major cities, including Abidjan, where hundreds took to the streets demanding a fair electoral process. Security forces reportedly dispersed the demonstrators, and unrest has spread to several regions, with reports of roadblocks and school disruptions.
Authorities have arrested more than 700 people over the past week, according to Public Prosecutor Oumar Braman Kone, who alleged that intercepted phone communications revealed “calls for attacks on public institutions” — actions he labelled as “acts of terrorism.”
On Thursday, 26 protesters were sentenced to three years in prison for public order offences, while 105 others are expected to face trial next week.
The opposition coalition — which includes Gbagbo’s African Peoples’ Party (PPA–CI) and Thiam’s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) — has condemned the restrictions and accused President Ouattara of using state institutions to suppress dissent and secure a controversial fourth term.
Human rights group Amnesty International has urged Ivorian authorities to “stop repressing peaceful protests” and ensure political freedoms in the run-up to the vote. However, Justice Minister Sansan Kambile defended the clampdown, insisting the measures were necessary to “protect national security and preserve public order.”
The October 25 election is seen as one of the most consequential in Ivory Coast’s recent history. It comes fifteen years after the country’s 2010–2011 post-election conflict that claimed over 3,000 lives and left deep political scars. Observers say the outcome of this year’s vote will test the strength of the country’s democracy and determine whether Africa’s fastest-growing economy can achieve lasting stability.
President Ouattara will face four challengers, including former minister Jean-Louis Billon and ex-first lady Simone Gbagbo, in what analysts describe as a fiercely contested race overshadowed by questions of legitimacy, inclusivity, and the future of democratic governance in Ivory Coast.
As the nation braces for election day, the world watches closely — hoping that peace, not protest, will define the next chapter of Ivorian democracy.
