The African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), led by former President Laurent Gbagbo, has denounced the arrest and detention of two of its senior members, former Defense Minister Moïse Lida Kouassi and former presidential protocol director Ambassador Koné Boubacar.
The two were taken into custody on August 8, 2025, following a summons to the Abidjan police headquarters, in connection with violent incidents in Yopougon on August 1, during which a bus was set on fire.
The party claims the arrests, which follow earlier detentions of six members allegedly abducted on August 2 and 3, are politically motivated and violate constitutional guarantees.
It also expressed concern over the conditions of detention and accused the authorities of targeting dissenting voices.
At a press conference in Abidjan, PPA-CI Executive President Sébastien Dano Djédjé declared solidarity with the detained officials, demanding their immediate release along with all “prisoners of conscience,” whom the party estimates to number nearly 100.
He reiterated calls for political dialogue, reform of the Independent Electoral Commission, an audit of the electoral roll, and inclusive elections ahead of the October 25, 2025 presidential vote.
The party reaffirmed its opposition to President Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term, urging its members to remain vigilant and committed to securing Laurent Gbagbo’s place on the electoral list.
