Six local leaders from the main Ivorian opposition party, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), regained their freedom on Monday after spending nine months in detention, as confirmed by their legal representative.

Detentions during election season

The arrests occurred against the backdrop of a politically charged presidential election year in Côte d’Ivoire. «After this morning’s hearing before the anti-terrorism chamber, my clients and PDCI activists (Allo Pacôme Didier, Kouleon Manhenin, N’Cho Gnangoran, Mabo Koffi Jean Marc, Ouattara Kinjinlman, Niangoran N’Guessan Edouard) are finally released after nine months in custody and returning home,» wrote their lawyer, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadje, on social media.

The eight detained PDCI members, who serve as party officials in various communes across Abidjan, were taken into custody between late September and early October 2025. Among them, two had already been freed in May: Clément Kouakou and Denis Brou.

Opposition leaders like PDCI chairman Tidjane Thiam and former President Laurent Gbagbo had already been barred from participating in the election through court rulings.

Several dozen opposition party members, including some senior officials, faced arrests or imprisonment during this period. Meanwhile, hundreds more were prosecuted for involvement in unauthorized protests during the campaign, with a reported death toll of around ten individuals.

The authorities maintained that all arrests followed standard legal procedures and were unrelated to political affiliation.

Recent releases of political figures

In early July, Moïse Lida Kouassi, a former Defense Minister under Laurent Gbagbo and party member, was freed after nearly a year behind bars. Additionally, Ibrahim Zigui, a cyberactivist aligned with the same political camp, was also released.