Four Ivory Coast opposition leaders barred from October presidential vote

Four prominent opposition leaders have been excluded from Ivory Coast’s electoral list. Officials announced this decision on Wednesday. The disqualification prevents them from contesting or voting in the October 25 presidential election.

The barred leaders include Tidjane Thiam, Laurent Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé, and Guillaume Soro. Thiam leads the main opposition Democratic Party (PDCI). He was removed due to a court challenge regarding his nationality. Gbagbo is a former president convicted of embezzlement in 2018. Blé Goudé is Gbagbo’s ex-youth minister serving a 20-year sentence. Soro is an exiled former prime minister convicted for plotting a coup.

These exclusions clear the way for President Alassane Ouattara, who is 83 years old. He may seek a fourth term after winning landslide victories in 2015 and 2020. The incumbent remains on the voter roll but has not declared his intentions.

Thiam criticized his exclusion as evidence of “total absence of democracy.” He has petitioned the UN Human Rights Committee about this issue. His lawyer called it “a grave violation” of international commitments.

Gbagbo’s PPA-CI party accused authorities of ignoring calls for dialogue. Secretary-general Jean-Gervais Tcheide said, “They chose force over reason,” and vowed resistance.

Electoral Commission head Ibrahime Kuibiert Coulibaly ruled out revising the voter register of 8.7 million people. He urged respect for court rulings to “end all disagreement.” This decision contrasts with 2020 when the list was adjusted before voting.

The government denies any interference in the process. Ruling RHDP party officials stated, “This is about law, not politics.” They encouraged those dissatisfied to appeal in court.

Simone Gbagbo, the ex-president’s wife and leader of an opposition coalition, warned that conditions are not ripe for a fair vote. Analysts fear these exclusions could reignite tensions in Ivory Coast. The nation is still recovering from post-election violence in 2010-11 that killed around 3,000 people.