One of Ivory Coast’s top opposition parties says six of its members were unfairly taken by security forces over the weekend. The African Peoples’ Party–Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), led by former president Laurent Gbagbo, claims the arrests are politically driven.
The party says its members were picked up between Saturday night and Sunday morning from their homes in Abidjan. Sébastien Dano Djédjé, a top party official, told reporters that those arrested were “abducted and taken to unknown locations.”
He said some of them lived in Youpougon, a suburb of the capital, where a violent event happened a few days earlier. In that incident, unknown attackers burned a public bus and clashed with local police.
PPA-CI strongly denies any link to the violence. Djédjé said his party condemned the attack and had nothing to do with it.
However, Interior Minister Vagondo Diomandé shared a different story on national television. He aired a video of a man who claimed to be a PPA-CI member. In the video, the man confessed that he and 15 others carried out the attack in Youpougon on behalf of the party.
Diomandé said the confession was made legally and under proper conditions. He rejected claims that the arrests were unlawful.
“No arrests in our country are made without legal basis,” Diomandé stated. “All legal steps are followed. The time of random arrests is over.”
The PPA-CI has questioned the validity of the confession and the video. Party leaders argue that the timing and manner of the arrests raise serious concerns, especially with an important election only weeks away.
Ivory Coast is preparing for a presidential election on October 12. Current President Alassane Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, is running for a fourth term.
Some experts say he may face little real opposition. Key figures like Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam have been removed from the official voter list. Their disqualification has sparked criticism at home and abroad.
Opposition parties, including the PPA-CI, claim the government is using legal tools to weaken its critics and limit competition. They fear the October election may not be fair or peaceful.
Ivory Coast’s past elections have often led to violence. In 2020, Ouattara’s third-term bid led to clashes across the country. Dozens died in protests and unrest.
Now, with the arrest of six opposition members and renewed political tension, some fear history may repeat itself. Human rights groups and political analysts are closely watching the situation.
So far, the government insists it is acting within the law. But opposition voices say the arrests are part of a pattern aimed at silencing critics.
As election day nears, many in Ivory Coast worry about rising pressure on the opposition. Calls for transparency, legal fairness, and open political space are growing louder.
The world will be watching closely as the country moves toward what could be another crucial vote in its democratic path.
