As Côte d’Ivoire prepares for a new presidential election in which the incumbent president, Alassane Ouattara, is seeking a fourth term, Tournons La Page Côte d’Ivoire (TLP-CI) is sounding the alarm over the growing acts of repression, the shrinking of civic space, and the establishment of a climate of fear.

In a statement dated October 18, 2025, we denounce an authoritarian drift that threatens democracy and urgently call on the authorities to respect fundamental freedoms, end police violence, and engage in genuine political dialogue to prevent another national crisis.

Press release from Tournons La Page Côte d’Ivoire on the socio-political situation in Côte d’Ivoire

Tournons La Page Côte d’Ivoire (TLP-CI), a civil society organization working in the field of human rights, freedoms, and democracy, is closely monitoring the contrasting situation currently prevailing on the Ivorian political scene.

Indeed, while joy and cheerfulness can be seen on the faces of some citizens who are actively participating in the presidential election campaign, other populations—particularly those whose leaders have been excluded from the political race—are facing various forms of repression and persecution, which unfortunately sometimes result in material damage, physical harm, and even loss of life.

To this must be added the restriction of civic space through Order No. 093/PA/CAB of October 10, 2025, prohibiting all public demonstrations throughout the country, as well as the recent joint ministerial decree of October 17, 2025, which bans rallies and public gatherings nationwide for two months. These decisions constitute a flagrant violation of the right to peaceful assembly.

We have also observed police patrols accompanied by systematic roundups in certain areas of Abidjan, particularly in the commune of Yopougon. This increasingly worrying situation is creating and amplifying an atmosphere of fear and panic, fostering widespread anxiety among the population. TLP-CI sadly notes that such unfortunate circumstances have been the lived reality of the Ivorian people in the run-up to presidential elections for the past three decades.

In light of this troubling picture of our democracy, Tournons La Page Côte d’Ivoire:

• Condemns police repression against peaceful demonstrations
• Condemns the silencing of the population through repressive laws
• Calls for the reopening of civic space
• Urges all stakeholders to work together to preserve social peace, without which no meaningful progress can be achieved
• Invites the government to resume political dialogue in order to find a lasting solution to the current socio-political situation

Finally, TLP-CI expresses its deepest sympathy to all victims of the recent police crackdowns and calls on state authorities to do everything possible to ensure peace, freedom, and security for all people living in Côte d’Ivoire, without distinction.

Done in Abidjan, on October 18, 2025

The National Coordinator

Yvonne Toba