Eleven persons, including several members of the Parti des peuples africains Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), the party of former President and opponent Laurent Gbagbo, have been indicted on serious charges, including “terrorist acts”, and placed under mandat de dépôt. These charges follow violent incidents that occurred in Abidjan at the beginning of the month, according to a communiqué by the procureur de la République, Oumar Braman Koné. On the night of 1 to 2 August 2025, in the commune of Yopougon in Abidjan, a public transport bus was set on fire. According to the prosecutor, a police vehicle was also vandalized, and its occupants were assaulted by a group of hooded individuals armed with machetes, gourdins, firearms and Molotov cocktails. The prosecutor’s communiqué describes this attack as an attempt to “provoke a situation of terror or intimidate the population” after the announcement of the candidacy of President Alassane Ouattara for a fourth term for the presidential election of 25 October. Following these events, an investigation led to the arrest of nine people, several of whom are affiliated with the PPA-CI. The party has however denied any involvement in these acts of violence.
Ivory Coast faces political tensions: members of the opposition charged with terrorism
