The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has expressed its deep concern over the alarming deterioration of the human rights situation in Côte d’Ivoire less than two weeks to the presidential election scheduled for 25 October 2025.

A statement issued and made available to Africa Prime News by the Institute on Friday, says events that unfolded on 11 October and in the days that followed reveal a worrying escalation in the repression of political opposition and civil society.

It says thus -: “On Saturday, 11 October 2025, Ivorian security forces violently dispersed a demonstration organised by the Common Front of the Opposition, composed of Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) and the African Peoples’ Party- Côte d’Ivoire
(PPA-CI).
“Despite a prefectural ban issued the day before, hundreds of citizens mobilized peacefully in Abidjan and other cities to protest government’s authoritarian drift and to demand safeguards for a transparent election. The intervention by the
security forces resulted in 710 arrests, according to security sources, including women and youth.

“The use of tear gas and the scale of the arrests raise serious concerns about the proportionality of the security response to unarmed demonstrators.

“In the days following the protest, several political leaders including Justin Koné Katinan (PPA-CI), Noël Akossi Bendjo (PDCI), and Pascal Affi N’Guessan (Ivorian Popular Front-FPI) reported that their homes were surrounded by heavy
security forces—a scenario that PPA-CI described as a “violent attack”. These actions constitute serious forms of intimidation aimed at silencing the opposition and deterring any form of citizen mobilisation.

“WACSI notes that this tense climate unfolds within a highly contested electoral context,
marked by the mass exclusion of opposition candidates, including former president
Laurent Gbagbo, Tidjane Thiam, Charles Blé Goudé, Guillaume Soro, amongst others;
irregularities in the electoral register; numerous unresolved complaints regarding the
electoral processes and procedures with the Independent Electoral Commission; and
the incessant use of intimidation and heavy security forces to deter opposition.

“Given this critical situation, WACSI calls on:
The Ivorian authorities to Immediately release all individuals arrested during the peaceful protest of Saturday,11 October 2025;
. Cease all forms of intimidation against journalists, opposition leaders and civil
society actors.
“Guarantee respect for fundamental freedoms of assembly, expression, and peaceful protest as enshrined in the Ivorian constitution and international Human Rights instruments.
d. Initiate an all-inclusive political dialogue with opposition parties and other relevant political stakeholders in the country; and
e. Allow the Independent Electoral Commission to rectify the irregularities in the electoral register, to ensure the transparency, credibility and safeguard of the electoral process.

ECOWAS and the African Union should:
a. Apply diplomatic pressure on the Ivorian government under the leadership of
president Alhassan Ouattara to provide an enabling environment for a credible, free,
fair and inclusive electoral process; and
b. Initiate high-level political mediation mission to meet with the Ivorian government, leadership of opposition parties, electoral commission, civil society and other key stakeholders to de-escalate tensions.

The international community should:
a. Publicly condemn the recent human rights violations occurring in Côte d’Ivoire, and
exert clear, unequivocal diplomatic pressure to denounce these ongoing and systematic
violations of human rights in the country.
b. Actively support regional mediation initiatives by strengthening efforts led by ECOWAS and the African Union. This support should include providing tangible technical, financial, and diplomatic assistance to mediators and the parties involved.
c. Uphold the transparency and impartiality of the mediation process, ensuring that it remains focused on achieving a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
d. Suspend any institutional assistance that could legitimise a severely flawed electoral
process. This includes financial or technical assistance that may be perceived as
validating or endorsing an inherently defective electoral system
Civil Society organisations should:
a. Systematically document all human rights violations occurring in the ongoing
electoral crisis to provide evidence to engage continental and international legal
mechanisms including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the
Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association,
and the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders.
b. Establish and maintain a visible monitoring presence on the ground to deter further
human rights abuses, provide indirect protection to potential victims of repression, and
deploy trained observers to high-risk areas and neighborhoods where law enforcement
agencies are conducting security operations.
c. Increase advocacy against human right violation, media repression and shrinking
civic space in Côte d’Ivoire by connecting with prodemocracy actors, human rights
defenders and civil society groups within and beyond West Africa to sustain momentum and solidarity.
WACSI reiterates that the stability and development of Côte D’Ivoire, as well as the
entire West African region, depend on adherence to democratic principles and respect
for human rights.
A credible, transparent, and inclusive electoral process remains the only path to sustainable peace.
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Formedia inquiries, contactus via email:
pia@wacsi.org or contactMr. JohnP.Frinjuah at:+233 5504 062 78
Signed:
WACSI