Tensions are running high in Ivory Coast ahead of Saturday’s presidential election following the killing of a gendarme during a patrol in the country’s south, authorities confirmed on Monday.
Officials said the attackers remain unidentified, but the incident occurred in an opposition stronghold that has recently witnessed protests after two major opposition leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, were barred from contesting in the polls.
In response to escalating unrest, President Alassane Ouattara’s government has imposed a nationwide ban on demonstrations. The 83-year-old incumbent, who is seeking a contentious fourth term, will face four approved candidates Simone Gbagbo, Ahoua Don Mello, Jean-Louis Billon, and Henriette Lago whose campaigns have not been affected by the restriction.
Ouattara, who has led the West African nation since 2011, has championed major infrastructure projects as part of his legacy. However, critics argue that rising inequality, youth unemployment, and soaring living costs have fueled public discontent. His opponents also accuse him of maintaining overly close ties with France, Ivory Coast’s former colonial power.
