On Saturday, 11 October, a protest march organised by the opposition platform “United Front” will take place in Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the presidential election, the platform’s representative Habiba Touré announced.
“All activists and supporters, as well as all Ivorians who aspire to justice, democracy and peace, are invited to take part in this national action,” the statement reads.
The march will begin at 8 a.m. local time near the roundabout by the Church of Saint John in the Cocody district. The column will then proceed along Boulevard Latrille to the Sokossé roundabout in the Deux-Plateaux area.
The opposition noted that all procedural notifications and authorisations were submitted properly and on time.
Earlier, the united opposition of Côte d’Ivoire postponed the protest march originally scheduled for 4 October in Abidjan due to government restrictions on public gatherings.
The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire will be held on 25 October. In June, the ruling party nominated incumbent President Alassane Ouattara as its candidate. Opposition figures Tidjane Thiam and Laurent Gbagbo were barred from running. Thousands of Abidjan residents took part in a demonstration on 9 August against Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term. African Initiative reported in late September on the details of the electoral race in Côte d’Ivoire.
The “United Front” was established by excluded candidates Tidjane Thiam and Laurent Gbagbo to put pressure on incumbent President Alassane Ouattara in his re-election attempt. The platform includes the African People’s Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) and the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI-RDA).
(African Initiative/GSF)
