ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire-The African People’s Party Côte d’Ivoire (PPACI), led by former President Laurent Gbagbo, has called for the immediate release of two senior party officials detained by authorities over the weekend.
The arrests come amid rising political tensions ahead of the country’s presidential elections scheduled for October 25.
Mr. Lida Kouassi Moise and Mr. Kone Boubacar were taken into police custody on Saturday, August 9, following more than 24 hours of interrogation. Their detention is linked to a violent incident in the Yopougon district of Abidjan on August 1–2, during which a public transport bus and a police vehicle were set ablaze.
Authorities allege that the two opposition figures played a role in orchestrating the violence. According to police sources, one individual arrested at the scene claimed to be affiliated with PPACI’s security wing and stated he acted on behalf of the party. Mr. Boubacar is accused of dispatching youth to carry out the attacks, while Mr. Moise is under investigation for allegedly making inflammatory and xenophobic remarks at a political rally earlier this summer.
The PPACI leadership has rejected the allegations, describing the arrests as politically motivated. During an emergency press conference held in Abidjan on Sunday, August 10, Executive Vice President Sébastien Dano Djedje condemned the detentions and thanked party supporters for staging a peaceful protest in Yopougon against President Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term.
“The fourth term is non-negotiable,” Djedje said, urging supporters not to be intimidated and calling for national dialogue to ensure peaceful and transparent elections.
The opposition party also demanded a comprehensive audit of the electoral roll, citing concerns over the exclusion of key opposition candidates—including Gbagbo—from the race. Several analysts and civil society organizations have warned of democratic backsliding and a resurgence of political instability in the West African nation.
The Ivorian government has maintained that the arrests are lawful and part of ongoing investigations into public disorder. Interior Minister Diomandé Vagondo stated on national television that “no arrest is made arbitrarily.”
As the election date approaches, observers say the political climate remains fragile, with fears that tensions could escalate if inclusive dialogue is not initiated.
