Author: Al Jazeera
Published on: 24/10/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
Ivory Coast residents rush home before dark in fear of election-related violence. The trucks have been on patrol there every day since October 10. They are among some 44,000 police and soldiers the government has deployed nationwide. Fears and political clampdown Ivory Coast is West Africa’s second-largest economy. But the country of some 32 million people has a dark history of political and electoral violence. Tensions rose in the country in June after four prominent opposition figures were excluded from the electoral roll. In July, anger rose in some quarters as incumbent President Alassane Ouattara announced he was seeking a fourth term in office. Others on the ballot with him include Simone Gbagbo, the former first lady, and three lesser-known political figures. The two main opposition parties announced a rally for October 4 saying that the aim was a dialogue with the government. Amnesty International condemns arrests: “Peaceful protest is a right, not a privilege” Human rights groups have condemned the arrests. The opposition announced they were calling for daily protests until election day. Pulcherie Gbalet has emerged as a prominent voice of the resistance inside the country. Through social media, she has urged Ivorians to “stop everything” including working or going to school. She was jailed twice in the past, once in 2020 when she was detained for eight months. The government said it would “take all necessary measures to maintain order and security” in a statement earlier this month. In 1995, there was an active boycott that resulted in three deaths. In 2000, we had extremely violent elections that caused 300 deaths. Justice ministry says “restrictions” are currently “strictly limited in time” for the duration of the election period as well as “targeting a specific type of contestation” The justice ministry said that the freedom to peacefully protest “may be subject to restrictions in accordance with the law” as election day nears, Gbalet’s call for a total shutdown reflects the frustration felt by many. Yeo Mamadou, 42, said he would have wanted the election to take place in a calm environment. But unfortunately, there have been violent confrontations between demonstrators and police. “The only option we have is to go and vote,” he said.
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Summary: 366 words
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