Côte d’Ivoire: Protest scheduled in Abidjan for August 21

Event

A political protest is scheduled to take place in the Cocody neighborhood of Abidjan on Friday, August 21, to protest President Alassane Ouattara's ambitions to run for a third term in office. Participants of the demonstration include multiple civil society groups and opposition political parties. Protesters will gather in front of the Cocody Municipal Hall before the crowd will march along Boulevard Latrille to the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI).

Associated disruptions to transportation are to be expected around the demonstration site.

Context

Ouattara announced on Friday, August 7, that he would be standing for a third term in presidential elections scheduled to be held in October. The president had been expected to stand down at the end of his current term, but the sudden death of his expected successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, on July 8 left the ruling RHDP coalition with no clear candidate going into the polls. However, Ouattara's decision to stand again has been opposed by the opposition and civil society groups.

Advice

Individuals in the Cocody neighborhood are advised to avoid all protests as a precaution, monitor the situation, allow ample travel time, and obey instructions issued by local authorities