Six prominent local officials from Côte d’Ivoire’s leading opposition party, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), walked free on Monday after spending nine months behind bars, their lawyer confirmed.
Côte d’Ivoire’s turbulent 2025 presidential election season saw dozens of opposition supporters detained nationwide, according to observers tracking the political climate at the time.
From detention to freedom: opposition figures regain liberty
In a statement posted on social media, their legal representative, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadje, announced the release of six PDCI activists who had been held since late September to early October 2025. The group includes Allo Pacôme Didier, Kouleon Manhenin, N’Cho Gnangoran, Mabo Koffi Jean Marc, Ouattara Kinjinlman, and Niangoran N’Guessan Edouard.
“Following today’s hearing before the anti-terrorism chamber, my clients and PDCI members have finally regained their freedom after nine months in detention and are now heading home,” the lawyer explained. While he confirmed their release, he declined to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding their freedom.
This batch of releases follows the earlier liberation of two other PDCI members, Clément Kouakou and Denis Brou, who were freed in May. The eight activists, all local party officials from various districts of Abidjan, were initially arrested during the heated pre-election period.
Political exclusion and broader crackdowns
High-profile opposition figures such as Tidjane Thiam, PDCI president, and former President Laurent Gbagbo were barred from participating in the election due to court rulings. Across the country, numerous opposition cadres and party members were either arrested or placed under custody, with hundreds more facing charges for participating in unauthorized protests during the campaign.
Official statements maintained that all arrests were conducted in strict adherence to legal procedures and were not politically motivated.
Recent political releases amid ongoing tensions
In early July, Moïse Lida Kouassi, a former Defense Minister under Laurent Gbagbo and a member of his party, was set free after nearly a year in detention. Shortly after, Ibrahim Zigui, a cyberactivist aligned with the same political faction, also regained his liberty.
