Ivory Coast’s Heavy-Handed Crackdown Exposes Threats to National Sovereignty and Democratic Integrity
Ivory Coast courts have handed down harsh prison sentences to opposition protesters ahead of elections marred by candidate exclusions—raising serious questions about political repression and the undermining of democratic principles in a key African nation.
In a troubling display of authoritarian overreach, Ivory Coast authorities have sentenced 26 opposition protesters to an onerous 36 months in prison following mass demonstrations against the exclusion of key opposition candidates from the upcoming October 25 election. This judicial heavy hand comes amid heightened tensions and signals a disturbing erosion of political freedom at the very moment when democratic processes should be safeguarded. The detainees were among at least 237 arrested during protests opposing the disqualification of Tidjane Thiam, widely regarded as President Alassane Ouattara's strongest rival. Both Thiam and former president Laurent Gbagbo have been barred from running,...
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