Two senior members of the African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), the opposition party founded by former president Laurent Gbagbo, have been formally charged and remanded in custody over alleged involvement in violent attacks earlier this month in Yopougon, west of Abidjan.
According to the public prosecutor, the pair — identified as Lida Kouassi Moïse, former Minister of Defence, and Koné Boubakar, a retired ambassador — were implicated during judicial hearings by other suspects arrested in connection with the unrest.
The violence erupted on the night of 1 August 2025, when a group of masked assailants armed with machetes, clubs, firearms, and petrol bombs attacked several locations in Yopougon.
The attackers reportedly set fire to a public SOTRA bus, damaged a police vehicle, and assaulted its occupants.
Investigations led to the arrest of multiple individuals, including Kouamé OI Kouamé Josué, known as “Général Frazaho”; Zoh Inza, known as “Zoulou”; and Gnegbre Kado Jean Claude, known as “Jaguar.”
Others detained include PPA-CI executive Zaholy Pascale, as well as Fofana Souleymane (“Solo”), Gnegbre Gbadjale Jean Alain, Gnegbre Ouaga Ange Deshor (“Gbe-Susteme”), Kuisse Elphège Fréjus (“Kirikou”), and Brou Adom Jean-Louis.
“During the various judicial hearings, they cited Messrs.
Lida Kouassi Moïse… and Koné Boubakar… as being the instigators of this violence,” the prosecutor stated.
Authorities allege the ultimate aim was to “provoke a situation of terror or intimidate the population after the announcement of the candidacy of the President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, in the presidential election of October 2025.”
The attacks allegedly targeted buses, petrol stations, the Yopougon Niangon Local Electoral Commission office, and the Yopougon Niangon Annex Town Hall.
The charges — which include terrorism, conspiracy against state authority, participation in an insurrection, and arson — fall under Côte d’Ivoire’s anti-terrorism legislation, notably Law 2015-493 and its 2018 amendments.
The arrests come amid heightened political tension, with the opposition demanding the reinstatement of several barred candidates, including Mr. Gbagbo, PDCI leader Tidjane Thiam, ex-prime minister Guillaume Soro, and Charles Blé Goudé, ahead of the 25 October presidential vote.
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