Ivorian opposition leaders released after months in detention

Six prominent figures from Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), walked free on Monday after spending nine months behind bars, their lawyer confirmed.

Nine months of detention during a tense election year

In 2025, Côte d’Ivoire experienced a presidential election marked by heightened political tensions, during which dozens of opposition members were arrested. Among them were six local PDCI officials who had been held since late September and early October of that year.

The freed activists—Allo Pacôme Didier, Kouleon Manhenin, N’Cho Gnangoran, Mabo Koffi Jean Marc, Ouattara Kinjinlman, and Niangoran N’Guessan Edouard—had their freedom restored following a court hearing before the anti-terrorism chamber on Monday, July 20.

In a social media post, their lawyer, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadje, announced their release. He stated, “After the hearing concluded, my clients and PDCI supporters have finally regained their freedom after nine months in detention and are now heading home.”

The lawyer refrained from disclosing the reasons behind their release. Earlier in May, two other PDCI activists, Clément Kouakou and Denis Brou, had also been set free.

Broader context of political arrests

The legal troubles extended beyond these six individuals. Earlier this month, a former Defense minister under former President Laurent Gbagbo and PDCI member, Moïse Lida Kouassi, was released after nearly a year in custody. Additionally, Ibrahim Zigui, a cyberactivist aligned with the same political faction, was also freed.

Judicial decisions also excluded prominent opposition figures such as PDCI leader Tidjane Thiam and former President Laurent Gbagbo from running in the election. Across Côte d’Ivoire, several dozen opposition activists and party officials faced arrests or imprisonment. Hundreds more were convicted for participating in prohibited protest marches during the campaign, with a reported death toll of around ten.

Government officials maintained that these arrests were not politically motivated and followed standard investigative procedures.