Key points
- Thousands in Abidjan protest barred opposition.
- Ouattara seeks contested fourth presidential term.
- Demonstrators demand fair vote and candidate reinstatement.
THOUSANDS of Ivorians rallied in Yopougon—one of Abidjan’s most densely populated suburbs—on Saturday, protesting the exclusion of several prominent opposition figures from the presidential ballot. Those barred include former president Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam, whose joint challenge to incumbent President Alassane Ouattara has been cut short by the electoral commission.
‘End the fourth-term coup’: protesters demand change
Demonstrators carried banners reading ‘Enough is enough!’ and ‘No true democracy without true justice,’ calling for Gbagbo and Thiam’s reinstatement. ‘We don’t want a fourth term, and we want the electoral roll revised,’ said activist Sagesse Divine. ‘We want all candidates’ names included, and we want to go to the elections in peace.’
Ouattara’s contested fourth bid
President Ouattara, aged 83, announced in July that he will seek a fourth term. The 2016 constitutional amendment removed presidential term limits, but critics argue his prolonged rule undermines democratic norms. Ouattara says the country’s security, economic, and monetary crises require seasoned leadership.
Disqualification battle
Thiam, leader of the Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire, won his party’s primary unopposed but was barred for holding French citizenship when he filed his candidacy, despite later renouncing it. Ivorian law prohibits dual nationals from running for president. The electoral commission has also blocked other opposition figures, intensifying calls for reform.
Regional democratic backsliding
The episode mirrors a wider West African trend of leaders extending rule through constitutional changes. The practice has fuelled unrest, triggered coups, and divided ECOWAS. Critics say such moves erode public trust and invite instability.
Government silence amid growing tension
Authorities have not commented on Saturday’s protest. Past elections in Cote d’Ivoire have been marred by violence, including deaths during the 2020 presidential contest. While the latest demonstration was largely peaceful, the atmosphere ahead of October’s vote remains volatile.
