Tensions flared in Abidjan on Saturday, October 11, 2025, as several opposition activists were arrested during a march in the Cocody district.
The demonstration, organised by the PPA-CI/PDCI Joint Front — the main opposition coalition — was disrupted by police who deployed tear gas to disperse protesters.
The march was intended to denounce what opposition parties describe as “unfair conditions” surrounding the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025.
Originally planned for October 4, the protest was postponed after the Abidjan prefecture canceled it. Authorities maintained that the event posed a risk to public order during the election campaign period.
In a decree, Abidjan’s prefect, Andjou Koua, stated that the march was banned because “no march has been declared to be held on October 11, 2025 in Abidjan.”
He added that the decision was motivated by information circulating on social media suggesting that the protest would proceed, and by the need to ensure safety amid ongoing electoral activities.
Despite the ban, opposition spokesperson and lawyer Habiba Touré confirmed that the march would take place. “The march for democracy, justice, and peace… will indeed take place,” she said, outlining the planned route from the Saint-Jean Cocody Church Roundabout along Boulevard Latrille to the Sococé Deux Plateaux Crossroads.
The protest comes as Ivory Coast enters a critical election period. Campaigning officially began at midnight on October 10 and will continue until October 23. Five candidates are vying for the presidency, including incumbent Alassane Ouattara, who is seeking a controversial fourth term.
Opposition leaders have decried their exclusion from the ballot, citing figures such as former President Laurent Gbagbo, former Crédit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, and former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan. They argue that Ouattara’s candidacy violates the constitution and undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
Saturday’s unrest underscores the mounting political tensions in the Ivory Coast as the nation prepares for a highly contested election. Observers warn that the combination of electoral disputes, mass mobilisations, and heavy-handed security responses risks further escalation in the lead-up to voting day.
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