Cotê D’Ivoire: Thousands Rally in Abidjan as Opposition Demands Electoral Reforms Ahead of October Election

Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Abidjan on Saturday, May 31, to demand electoral reforms and protest the exclusion of key opposition figures from Ivory Coast’s upcoming presidential election, scheduled for October 25.

The rally, organised by the Coalition for Peaceful Change in Côte d’Ivoire (CAP-CI), marked the alliance’s first major public demonstration since its formation in March.

According to reports, participants at the Ficgayo Square in Yopougon carried placards reading “Inclusive elections,” “Transparent elections,” and “Excluding is not winning,” which reflects widespread concerns over the disqualification of several prominent opposition leaders, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, who have been barred from the electoral list due to legal convictions or ongoing proceedings.

Simone Gbagbo, former First Lady and declared presidential candidate, addressed the crowd, urging the government to initiate immediate political dialogue.

She also called for revising the electoral roll and reforms to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which opposition parties have criticised for partiality.

Pascal N’Guessan, leader of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) and former Prime Minister, accused the government of orchestrating a strategy of exclusion.

“They are wrong to disregard the demands of the political opposition,” he stated.

From abroad, PDCI President Tidjane Thiam, who was also excluded from the presidential race, addressed the rally via videoconference.

“Ivorians simply want to express themselves freely. We call on the government to show common sense and moderation,” he said.

The government maintains that the judiciary operates independently and that no political pressure influences the decisions to invalidate certain candidacies. However, the opposition argues that these exclusions compromise the legitimacy of the upcoming election.

President Alassane Ouattara, in power since 2011, has not yet announced whether he will seek a fourth term. His party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), is scheduled to hold a congress on June 21 and 22, shortly after the publication of the final electoral list.

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