Children await the arrival of Ivorian independent presidential candidate Ahoua Don Mello for his campaign rally at the commune of Port-Bouet in Abidjan on October 15, 2025. The west African nation will go to the polls on October 25 and incumbent Ouattara, in power since 2011, is vying for a fourth term in office. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Authorities restrict rallies for two months as tensions soar over opposition exclusions and mass arrests before the October 25 vote
Ivory Coast’s government has announced a broad two-month ban on political rallies and demonstrations, just days before the country heads to the polls in a tense presidential election. The decision, made jointly by the interior and defence ministries late Friday, is seen as a major escalation in the government’s efforts to contain growing unrest and opposition resistance.
Under the directive, all political gatherings are prohibited except for those organized by the five candidates officially cleared to contest the October 25 election. The move effectively silences major opposition groups that have been mobilizing supporters against President Alassane Ouattara’s controversial bid for a fourth term.
Tensions have been rising across the West African nation following the disqualification of two prominent political figures, former president Laurent Gbagbo and former prime minister Tidjane Thiam, from the race. Their exclusion has fueled anger among opposition supporters who accuse the electoral authorities of bias and the government of attempting to stifle political competition.
Last weekend, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Abidjan and other cities to denounce the decision, prompting security forces to intervene with tear gas and arrests. Sporadic unrest has since spread to several regions, with reports of road and school blockades disrupting daily life.
Public prosecutor Oumar Braman Kone said roughly 700 people have been arrested in connection with the protests. He alleged that phone data linked some detainees to “calls for attacks on public institutions,” labeling such actions as “acts of terrorism.”
Crackdowns on dissent have intensified in recent days. On Thursday, 26 protesters were handed three-year prison sentences for public order offences, while another 105 individuals are expected to face trial next week. Human rights observers have warned that the authorities’ approach could further inflame political tensions ahead of the crucial vote.
The opposition coalition, which brings together Gbagbo’s African Peoples’ Party, Ivory Coast (PPA-CI) and Thiam’s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, condemned the government’s actions, describing them as an assault on democracy and a clear attempt to suppress legitimate political expression.
President Ouattara, who first took office in 2011 after a post-election conflict that left thousands dead, faces mounting criticism for seeking another term despite earlier pledges to step aside. His supporters argue that the constitutional changes adopted in 2016 reset his term limits, allowing him to run again.
With just a week to go before the election, the atmosphere in Ivory Coast remains volatile. The sweeping ban on protests underscores the government’s determination to maintain control, but it also raises fears that suppressing dissent could lead to further unrest in a nation still haunted by memories of its past political crises.
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