Six local officials of Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) have been released after spending nine months in detention, in a move that comes months after the country’s disputed 2025 presidential election. The officials were freed on Monday following a hearing before the anti-terrorism chamber in Abidjan, according to their lawyer, Ange Rodrigue Dadje, who announced the development on social media. “The PDCI activists have been released after nine months in detention and are finally returning home,” Dadje said, adding that he could not disclose the legal grounds for their release. Their release follows the freeing of two other PDCI local officials in May, bringing the total number of opposition party members released in recent months to eight.
The officials were arrested between September and October 2025, shortly before Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election, during a period marked by heightened political tensions, opposition protests and a widespread security crackdown. The election was overshadowed by the exclusion of several prominent opposition leaders, including PDCI leader Tidjane Thiam and former President Laurent Gbagbo, both of whom were barred from contesting the presidency through separate court rulings. President Alassane Ouattara went on to secure a fourth term in office, winning nearly 90 percent of the vote in an election that opposition parties criticized as lacking genuine political competition.
The post-election period saw dozens of opposition activists, local officials and senior politicians arrested or detained. Authorities also prosecuted hundreds of civilians accused of participating in unauthorized demonstrations during the campaign, while clashes linked to the unrest reportedly left around 10 people dead. The Ivorian government has consistently denied allegations that the arrests were politically motivated, insisting that all detentions were carried out in accordance with the law to maintain public order and national security. The release of the six officials is expected to ease some political tensions, although opposition parties continue to call for broader political dialogue, judicial reforms and the release of remaining detainees they describe as political prisoners. Observers say the development could contribute to efforts to improve Côte d’Ivoire’s political climate as the country seeks greater national reconciliation following another contentious electoral cycle.
