Lawmakers from Côte d’Ivoire’s leading opposition parties staged a dramatic boycott of the National Assembly’s opening session on Thursday, intensifying political tensions ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 25.
Deputies from the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), and several non-affiliated members refused to attend the ceremonial launch of the legislature’s second ordinary session. The move signals growing unrest over President Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term, which critics have labeled unconstitutional.
In a joint statement issued earlier this week, opposition lawmakers condemned what they described as the “calamitous conduct” of the electoral process. They accused the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) of undermining national unity and steering the country toward political instability.
Key Grievances
They added that the Constitutional Council’s September 8 decision to bar former President Laurent Gbagbo and PDCI-RDA candidate Tidjane Thiam from the race was denounced as “flagrantly unconstitutional.” Lawmakers claim the Council violated legal procedures to clear the way for Ouattara’s candidacy.
The statement also added that the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has come under fire for failing to revise the voter registry, a move the opposition says disenfranchises millions of potential voters. The rejection of other candidacies, including that of Deputy Pascal Affi N’Guessan, was also criticized.
The government was accused of ignoring a ruling by the UN Human Rights Committee affirming the political rights of Gbagbo and Thiam.
The statement cited arbitrary arrests and the suppression of dissent, alleging a climate of fear and “state terrorism.”
Government and International Reactions
The RHDP has defended the electoral process, citing legal and administrative grounds for candidate exclusions. While the government has not formally responded to the boycott, officials have previously dismissed opposition claims as politically motivated.
International observers, including the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), have urged all parties to commit to peaceful dialogue and uphold democratic principles.
Despite the boycott, the parliamentary session proceeded with RHDP lawmakers and a limited number of attendees. The opposition has vowed to continue its resistance through legal channels, international advocacy, and peaceful demonstrations.
Political analysts warn that the exclusion of key figures and the erosion of trust in electoral institutions could increase the risk of unrest before and after the vote.
