Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital, on Saturday, demanding the reinstatement of opposition leader Tidjane Thiam and other key figures removed from the national electoral register ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
The protest, led by the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), drew wide support and highlighted growing tensions in the lead-up to the 25 October vote.
The march began at the Espace Sococé in Cocody, a district in eastern Abidjan, and concluded at the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI).
Afterwards, PDCI representatives held a closed-door meeting with CEI officials to formally express their grievances.
Speaking after the meeting, Sylvestre Emmou, the PDCI’s chief executive secretary, demanded the “unconditional reinstatement” of party leader Tidjane Thiam and other senior opposition figures. Emmou condemned their exclusion from the voter register as “unjust and arbitrary,” warning that such actions undermine peace and democratic integrity in the country.
Emmou further criticised the CEI, accusing it of lacking neutrality and being too closely aligned with the ruling party, the RHDP.
The PDCI, along with other opposition parties, have been pushing for a new revision of the electoral list in line with the country’s electoral code, a move that would allow excluded candidates to requalify. However, the CEI has voiced concerns about the feasibility of such a revision given time constraints before the October election.
