Six key figures from Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Parti démocratique de Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), walked free on Monday after spending nine months behind bars. Their lawyer confirmed their release following a court hearing before the country’s anti-terrorism chamber.
The freed activists include Allo Pacôme Didier, Kouleon Manhenin, N’Cho Gnangoran, Mabo Koffi Jean Marc, Ouattara Kinjinlman, and Niangoran N’Guessan Edouard. According to a statement posted on social media by their legal representative, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadje, the group was detained without charge since late 2024 and is now returning home.
political tensions during election year
The arrests came amid a highly charged presidential election in 2025, a period marked by heightened political sensitivities across Côte d’Ivoire. Dozens of opposition members, including local PDCI leaders from several districts in Abidjan, were taken into custody between late September and early October of that year.
Among those still facing legal restrictions are PDCI president Tidjane Thiam and former President Laurent Gbagbo, both barred from running due to court rulings. Additionally, hundreds of individuals—many accused of participating in unauthorized protests during the campaign—were tried and sentenced, with reports indicating at least ten fatalities.
Government officials maintained that all detentions followed standard legal procedures and were not politically motivated.
further releases amid easing tensions
Recent weeks have seen more political figures regain their freedom. In early July, Moïse Lida Kouassi, a former Defense Minister under Laurent Gbagbo and a member of his party, was released after nearly a year in detention. Another figure, cyberactivist Ibrahim Zigui, also walked free around the same time.
Meanwhile, two other PDCI supporters, Clément Kouakou and Denis Brou, were set free in May, bringing the total number of recently released opposition members to eight.