Tensions are mounting in Ivory Coast ahead of the 2025 presidential election, as opposition figures and civil society actors call for increased international scrutiny of the electoral process.
Tidjane Thiam, leader of the PDCI-RDA party, has urged the international community to apply immediate pressure on the Ivorian government in Abidjan, citing concerns raised in a recent report by the U.S.-based International Republican Institute (IRI).
Political unrest is becoming increasingly visible.
Citizens of Ivory Coast organized a sit-in outside the French embassy in London to denounce what they describe as “France’s opaque involvement” in the country’s political affairs.
Meanwhile, the Front Commun PPA-CI-PDCI-RDA has announced a march on October 4, described by the newspaper La Voie Originale as “a protest against dictatorship.”
Ivorian intellectuals living in the United States have also called for the postponement of the elections, citing irregularities and the need for a transparent process. “We must ensure that the election is free and fair,” said one group of scholars, reflecting wider anxieties about the political climate in Ivory Coast.
President Thiam praised the IRI report, using it to bolster his appeal for urgent international intervention. Observers note that the opposition is leveraging both domestic and global platforms to amplify concerns about the electoral environment, signalling a potential flashpoint as election day approaches.
Amid the political turbulence, local leaders are emphasizing peace and unity. In the V Baoulé region, Minister Amédée Kouakou has positioned himself as “an apostle of peace,” while newspapers such as L’Expression highlight calls from both Muslim and Christian communities for elections to proceed without violence.
The situation has left the nation holding its breath, with media outlets questioning whether the planned October 4 march could trigger unrest. Analysts warn that Ivory Coast’s ability to maintain stability will be closely scrutinized, both at home and internationally, as the country prepares for one of its most contested electoral periods in recent memory.
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