Six opposition leaders released after nine months in ivoire custody
Six opposition leaders freed after nine months behind bars in Côte d’Ivoire
The release comes amid heightened political tensions during a presidential election year marked by widespread arrests of opposition figures.
Release following nine months in custody
Six local leaders of Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), walked free on Monday after spending nine months in detention. Their lawyer confirmed the news on social media, stating that the six individuals—Allo Pacôme Didier, Kouleon Manhenin, N’Cho Gnangoran, Mabo Koffi Jean Marc, Ouattara Kinjinlman, and Niangoran N’Guessan Edouard—had been reunited with their families following the court’s decision.
Political arrests during a tense election period
In 2025, Côte d’Ivoire held a presidential election under politically charged conditions, during which dozens of opposition members were arrested. The six PDCI leaders were detained between late September and early October 2025, coinciding with the election period. Their lawyer did not disclose the reasons behind their release.
In May of the same year, two other PDCI activists, Clément Kouakou and Denis Brou, were also freed after prolonged detention. Earlier in July, Moïse Lida Kouassi, a former Defense Minister under Laurent Gbagbo and a member of his party, was released after nearly a year behind bars. Additionally, Ibrahim Zigui, a cyberactivist aligned with the same political camp, was also set free.
The wave of arrests extended beyond the PDCI, with several dozen opposition figures—including high-ranking party members—detained or jailed. Authorities maintained that the arrests were not politically motivated and adhered to standard investigative procedures.
During the election campaign, multiple opposition leaders, including Tidjane Thiam (PDCI President) and Laurent Gbagbo (former Head of State), were barred from running due to court rulings. Hundreds of individuals accused of participating in unauthorized protests were sentenced, and at least ten people lost their lives in related incidents.