Ivorian opposition leader and PDCI President Tidjane Thiam has expressed sadness over the recent arrests and alleged mistreatment of opposition protesters in Abidjan, following a banned march on October 11, 2025.
Thiam said the incidents contradict the spirit of “Houphouetism,” emphasizing that true loyalty to the legacy of late President Félix Houphouët-Boigny lies in tolerance and respect for others, not in violence or repression.
Thiam, whose candidacy for the October 25 presidential election was invalidated alongside that of Laurent Gbagbo, condemned what he described as excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, including detained PDCI members Djeneba Soumahoro and Shérif.
As tensions rise over President Alassane Ouattara’s controversial bid for a fourth term, Thiam urged authorities to uphold democratic values and allow space for political expression ahead of the October 23 campaign deadline.
