With elections just months away, courts in Cote d’Ivoire have jailed several opposition figures and disqualified key presidential contenders, prompting accusations that the judiciary is being wielded as a political weapon to secure President Alassane Ouattara’s grip on power.
At least seven opposition members have been detained since June, while former president Laurent Gbagbo and widely supported candidate Tidjane Thiam have been barred from running. Rights groups warn the crackdown signals a systematic campaign to silence dissent and manipulate the electoral process.
Crackdown intensifies ahead of the vote
Among those arrested are members of the youth wing of the Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire (PDCI), accused of ‘disturbing public order’. Gala Kolebi, the communications chief for the PPA-CI party, received an 18-month sentence for allegedly spreading fake news. Meanwhile, PPA-CI deputy secretary-general Charles Rodel Dosso was arrested during protests over soaring prices. His lawyer denounced the charges as politically motivated.
Even former allies have not been spared. Joël N’Guessan, a former minister under Ouattara turned critic, was arrested after he challenged the legality of opposition arrests. Though released on bail, his case reflects growing unease even within the ruling party’s former ranks.
Disqualifications deepen political rift
Courts have also blocked major political challengers from contesting the October vote. Gbagbo remains barred due to a past conviction, despite receiving a presidential amnesty. Thiam, who had returned from exile to launch a presidential bid, was disqualified over disputed residency requirements.
‘It is difficult not to draw a link between these rulings and the political context,’ said Emile Suy Bi Gohore, legal adviser to Thiam’s campaign.
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruled that the disqualifications violate democratic standards, but Ivorian authorities have ignored the verdict, insisting the judiciary operates independently.
Repression draws international alarm
Rights activist Pulchérie Gbalet, previously jailed twice, described how opposition members are routinely arrested in pre-dawn raids by masked men. ‘This is not justice—it is political abduction,’ she told reporters. Amnesty International’s Hervé Delmas Kokou added: ‘This is a pre-election pattern we’ve seen before in Cote d’Ivoire—and it’s worsening.’
Freedom House warned the judiciary appears ‘fully mobilised’ in support of the incumbent, further calling into question the fairness of the electoral environment. At 83, Ouattara has not confirmed if he will seek re-election, though analysts believe the ongoing crackdown signals his intent to eliminate potential rivals early.
Government doubles down
Despite international concern, the government insists that the courts are impartial. Minister of Communication Amadou Coulibaly warned opposition parties against staging protests, saying: ‘Disorder will not be tolerated.’
Opposition parties are nonetheless planning demonstrations, raising fears of a repeat of the deadly unrest that accompanied the 2020 election. With several prominent figures jailed or disqualified, observers fear a new cycle of political crisis is already unfolding.
