AFRICA/IVORY COAST – Tensions due to demonstrations organized by the opposition ahead of the presidential elections on October 25

Abidjan – Demonstrations are planned for today, Saturday, October 4, in all cities in Ivory Coast. These demonstrations are organized by the “Fronte Comune,” the alliance of the two main opposition parties, the PPA-CI of former President Laurent Gbagbo and the PDCI-RDA led by Tidjane Thiam.
The reason for the protest is the fourth term of President Alassane Ouattara and the exclusion of the two candidates from the electoral process following the Constitutional Council’s decision of September 8 not to admit them to the presidential elections on October 25.
In April, Tidjane Thiam was removed from the electoral roll because of his nationality, and Laurent Gbagbo because of a criminal conviction. The Court of Appeal ruled that Tidjane Thiam was no longer an Ivorian citizen at the time of his registration. According to the judges, he lost his citizenship almost 40 years ago when he took French nationality, even though he had officially renounced it in March of this year to run for president. On September 8, the Constitutional Council rejected his appeal.
Fearing unrest, the authorities decided to deploy 18,000 police officers, 18,000 gendarmes, and 8,000 soldiers, a total of 44,000 law enforcement officers, to ensure the security of the electoral process from October 4 to November 4.
The date of October 4 was not chosen by chance. Salaries were paid at the beginning of the month, allowing the population to stock up on food and other necessities in preparation for a protest that could last several days.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Catholic bishops and Muslim leaders, who gathered at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Plateau on September 27, called for peaceful elections and expressed a desire for moderation and respect for institutions in view of the presidential elections on October 25.
In their joint statement, the religious leaders expressed concern about the verbal violence, particularly on social media, which has increased following the Constitutional Council’s publication of the final list of candidates. They consider this a sign of a lack of civic and moral education and urge families, schools, and religious communities to act and become aware of their fundamental educational role.
The signatories appeal to political leaders and activists, calling on them to cultivate humility, tolerance, and mutual respect, regardless of the outcome of the election.
Tensions were exacerbated by the arrest of two PPA-CI representatives on September 30, who were accused of “endangering state security,” “incitement to insurrection,” “disturbing public order,” and “failing to comply with the decision of the Constitutional Court.”

Read original article