ABIDJAN, Oct. 17 — Human rights group Amnesty International has called on Ivorian authorities to halt the repression of peaceful demonstrations in the run-up to the country’s presidential elections, after security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters in Abidjan on October 11 and arrested 255 people.
Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty’s regional director for West and Central Africa, said restrictions on public gatherings must be “lawful, necessary, proportionate, and non-discriminatory.” He urged the government to release those detained and to publish information on any charges.
Blanket Bans on Assemblies
The crackdown follows a decision by the National Security Council earlier this month to impose sweeping restrictions on public assemblies during the election period, including prohibitions on meetings or protests challenging the Constitutional Council’s rulings.
Amnesty condemned these measures as “blanket bans” that violate Côte d’Ivoire’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Sivieude stressed that peaceful protest is a right, not a privilege, particularly during election campaigns when candidates must engage directly with voters.
Rising Political Tensions
The Electoral Commission confirmed on October 8 that five candidates will contest the October 25 vote, after rejecting two opposition hopefuls. One day later, the Prefect of Abidjan banned a planned opposition rally for October 4. When opposition groups rescheduled for October 11, security forces intervened with tear gas, leading to mass arrests. That same evening, security forces briefly surrounded the residence of opposition leader Pascal Affi N’Guessan, heightening concerns of intimidation.
A Pattern of Suppression
This is not the first time Côte d’Ivoire has faced criticism for curbing civic freedoms. In April, Amnesty denounced the arrest of union leader Ghislain Duggary Assy, urging authorities to respect the right to strike and assemble peacefully.
With the presidential election days away, rights groups warn that continued repression could deepen mistrust in the political process and fuel unrest. Amnesty has called on the government to facilitate, rather than suppress, peaceful assemblies, ensuring that security measures are grounded in de-escalation and protection of participants.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Salma Ben Mariem | Faculty of Law and Political Science of Sousse, TN
