10 Feb 2022 | 10:34 AM UTC
Cote d'Ivoire: Supporters of former president to gather in Abidjan Feb. 13
Supporters of former president to rally in Yopougon area of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Feb. 13. Localized disruptions likely.
Event
Supporters of former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo will rally at the Eglise Protestante Baptiste Oeuvre et Mission in the Yopougon neighborhood in Abidjan – historic Gbagbo’s stronghold – Feb. 13. Participants, including members of Gbagbo's newly created political party, the Parti des Peuples Africains – Cote d'Ivoire (PPA-CI), will likely gather from 10:00.
The gathering could attract hundreds to thousands of people. Police will likely deploy and introduce heightened security measures, such as road closures. Clashes remain possible in the event rival activists attend.
Context
In March 2021, the International Criminal Court confirmed Gbagbo's acquittal for crimes against humanity related to the violence linked to his defeat in the 2010 presidential election. President Alassane Ouattara said he could return to Cote d’Ivoire freely.
Gbagbo’s return to Cote d'Ivoire in June 2021 did not result in widespread tensions. Following his return, he created the PPA-CI. His political ambitions remain, however, unclear.
Advice
Abide by all official directives and avoid all gatherings to mitigate associated disruptions. Leave the area at the first sign of confrontation. Refrain from discussing domestic political issues in public.
