Côte d’Ivoire’s two main opposition parties—the African People’s Party (PPA-CI) led by former President Laurent Gbagbo and the Democratic Party (PDCI) led by ex-international banker Tidjane Thiam—have announced on Thursday, June 19, a united front to demand that their leaders, barred from contesting the upcoming October presidential election, be allowed to run.
The announcement comes amid rising political tension after the courts excluded several high-profile opposition candidates from the 25 October poll, in which President Alassane Ouattara is widely expected to seek a controversial fourth term.
Thiam, speaking via video link, said the alliance seeks to amplify the voice of Ivorian citizens at a critical juncture for the country’s future. The opposition bloc has also called for an inclusive political dialogue and reforms to the electoral commission, warning that if such measures are not taken, the election would lack both legitimacy and credibility. These demands echo those of a broader 20-party coalition formed earlier this year, though it does not include Gbagbo’s PPA-CI due to internal rifts.
Although the issue of a single opposition candidate was not discussed, both Gbagbo and Thiam criticised President Ouattara’s anticipated re-election bid. Gbagbo condemned the exclusion of viable contenders, stating it undermines democracy and risks reviving single-party rule. The Ivorian government has rejected claims of political bias, asserting that the exclusions were legal decisions made by an independent judiciary.