Ivory Coast’s opposition has called a protest for November 8, condemning alleged “massacres” during Saturday’s presidential election.
President Alassane Ouattara secured a fourth term with nearly 90 percent of the vote amid a campaign marked by intense political tensions.
Some two percent of polling stations reported disturbances, with violence erupting notably in the centre-west, leaving local communities shaken.
Clashes in Nahio on election day resulted in three deaths, according to the public prosecutor, highlighting deep divisions among citizens.
The African People’s Party – Ivory Coast (PPA-CI), led by ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, accused authorities of violent repression during the October vote.
The party reported a total of 23 deaths and denounced what it calls Ouattara’s unconstitutional fourth mandate.
On Wednesday, the PPA-CI urged citizens to join a “large peaceful march” demanding accountability and the release of political prisoners.
Authorities had previously banned rallies by non-participating parties for two months, citing risks to public order across the nation.
Several hundred citizens were arrested for participating in banned demonstrations, with dozens sentenced to three years in prison.
On Tuesday, police summoned around 20 opposition members from the PPA-CI and Democratic Party of Ivory Coast for unknown reasons.
The PPA-CI’s Secretary-General, Jean-Gervais Tcheide, said the summonses were “suspended,” a statement confirmed by Ivorian authorities.
Tcheide described the actions as manoeuvres to block deputies from running in the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for December 27.
The opposition’s call to protest underscores growing tensions ahead of national votes, reflecting a nation divided along political and social lines.