The political atmosphere in Ivory Coast has taken a sharp turn as the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo revealed that it will boycott the December parliamentary elections. The decision comes after the arrest of a top party figure on terrorism-related charges.
According to State Prosecutor Oumar Braman Kone, Damana Pickass who was taken into custody on Tuesday near Abidjan, is accused of calling for protests and attempting to destabilize state institutions following the controversial October 25 presidential election.
In that presidential race, Gbagbo’s longtime opponent, President Alassane Ouattara, won a fourth term, securing nearly 90% of the vote. Both Gbagbo and fellow opposition leader Tidjane Thiam were barred from contesting.
After an emergency session, Gbagbo’s African Peoples’ Party, Ivory Coast (PPA-CI) announced that it will not participate in the parliamentary polls, citing what it described as a “toxic socio-political climate marked by repression, persecution, and judicial harassment.”
Pickass, who played a key role in maintaining collaboration between the PPA-CI and Thiam’s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, was last seen publicly on October 16 in a video encouraging Ivorians to take to the streets. Authorities later banned opposition gatherings ahead of the election.
The prosecutor confirmed that Pickass, real name Damana Adia has now been handed over to the anti-terrorism unit of an Abidjan court, where a formal investigation has begun.
Official reports count at least 11 deaths linked to the election unrest, though opposition sources say the number is closer to 27. More than 100 people have allegedly been sentenced to three years in prison.Earlier this year, Pickass received a 10-year sentence for “jeopardizing state security” in connection to a 2021 case, but had remained free until this arrest.
Political observers say President Ouattara’s ruling party, the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, is on track to dominate the December 27 elections as the opposition continues to fragment.
