Ofure Akhigbe
The Ivorian government has banned all public meetings and demonstrations challenging the exclusion of key opposition figures from the presidential election scheduled for October 25.
The move comes after the Constitutional Council published the final list of approved candidates, which notably excludes several prominent figures. Among those barred are Tidjane Thiam, former CEO of Credit Suisse and leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI); former President Laurent Gbagbo; Charles Blé Goudé; and Guillaume Soro.
Thiam’s disqualification stems from a court ruling that he held French nationality at the time of registration, despite formally renouncing it earlier this year.
The decision sparked protests across the country. In Abidjan’s Yopougon suburb, thousands took to the streets carrying banners that read, “Enough is enough!” and “No true democracy without true justice.” Demonstrators demanded the reinstatement of the excluded candidates and called for fair, inclusive elections.
The government defended the ban, saying it is necessary to preserve public order amid what it described as unrest and false information tied to the rallies. Critics, however, argue that the exclusions and restrictions mark a serious erosion of democratic freedoms.
It remains unclear whether the disqualified candidates will be able to overturn the decision through legal action or international pressure. As tensions rise, observers warn that Ivory Coast—scarred by past post-election violence—faces a critical test of its democratic institutions in the weeks ahead.