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Amnesty International on Thursday called on authorities in Ivory Coast to end a crackdown on opposition protests and release those arrested, less than two weeks before presidential elections.
The west African country has been swept by demonstrations ahead of the October 25 elections, after two top opposition figures — former president Laurent Gbagbo and the head of the main opposition party, Tidjane Thiam — were barred in September from running against incumbent Alassane Ouattara.
Earlier this month, the government announced a ban on protesting against the candidates’ exclusion from the vote.
“The authorities must stop stifling peaceful protests” ahead of the elections and “protect the right to protest”, Amnesty said in a statement.
Despite the ban, demonstrations and road blockades have taken place this week in several places, particularly opposition strongholds.
A man was shot dead by “unidentified individuals” during a protest in southern Ivory Coast, police announced Tuesday.
Gbagbo’s party said the man had been shot by security forces, and alleged a baby had died from being asphyxiated by tear gas at another protest.
At a march in Abidjan on Saturday, which had been banned by authorities the day before, security forces dispersed crowds with tear gas.
Between Saturday and Sunday evening, 710 people were arrested, according to a security source.
“Those detained at unauthorised protests will have to answer before the law,” Interior Minister Vagondo Diomande said Saturday.
The protesters had gathered to contest a possible fourth term in office for 83-year-old Ouattara.
The incumbent, in power since 2011, is still facing four opposition candidates in the elections.
“Anyone detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights should be released immediately,” said Amnesty’s regional director for west and central Africa, Marceau Sivieude, in the statement, urging authorities to publish information on arrests and charges.
The government did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
“Our democracy does not need violence to express itself,” Ouattara said as he took his campaign to the capital, Yamoussoukro, on Tuesday.
The opposition has called for a new nationwide protest, the date of which has not yet been announced.
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