Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s largest city, was the scene on August 12, 2025, of a march through the streets by hundreds of demonstrators demanding the inclusion of the opposition in the next presidential elections.
This protest was a brainchild of political activists and civil society groups who, in their calls, urged wider political participation and transparency of the electoral process.
The crowd of demonstrators also requested the electoral commission to give the former president Laurent Gbagbo and the former prime minister Guillaume Soro the opportunity to participate in the presidential race of 2025.
The two have been banned from running for office by law and judiciary, whereas, the protesters claim that the prohibitions are the source of the lack of true democratic representation in the country.
Abidjan downtown security forces who supervised the peaceful march through the streets have not come across any major obstacles. While authorities have not yet released a formal reply to the demands of the protesters, organizers have declared their readiness for more consultations with government, Commission, and members of different political parties.
The demonstration is a clear indication of the political problems that still exist in Ivory Coast and hamper the country especially during elections.
As a result of disputes over the eligibility of candidates, the 2020 presidential election in the country was faced with boycotts and violence. At the same time, political analysts argue that the most credible way to calm the situation and to legitimize democracy is by granting more candidates the participation.
During the protest, the speakers put forward the reformation of the electoral system as a complete change which should involve modifications to the electoral code, a more transparent voter registration process as well as the presence of the international observers to guarantee the credibility of the poll.
The demonstrators made a solemn pledge to uphold the vital aspect of political participation as one that would be democratic and the democracy of the country would thus advance.
