Political tension is rising in Ivory Coast just days before Saturday’s presidential election, following the fatal shooting of a gendarme on patrol in the country’s south.
Authorities have not yet identified the attackers, but the incident occurred in a region known as an opposition stronghold, which has seen a wave of unrest after the government barred leading opposition figures Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam from contesting in the upcoming vote.
In response to growing demonstrations, President Alassane Ouattara’s administration has imposed a nationwide ban on protests, though political rallies by the remaining approved candidates Simone Gbagbo, Ahoua Don Mello, Jean-Louis Billon, and Henriette Lagou are continuing without interruption.
Ouattara, 83, is seeking a fourth term in office, a move that has further fueled political divisions and public frustration.
Since assuming power in 2011, Ouattara has championed major infrastructure and economic development projects, transforming parts of the nation’s transport and energy sectors. However, critics argue that his policies have deepened inequality and driven up the cost of living for ordinary Ivorians.
Opposition leaders have also accused the president of maintaining close ties with France, the country’s former colonial power, a relationship they claim undermines Ivory Coast’s sovereignty.
The killing of the gendarme has heightened fears of renewed political violence, recalling the unrest that followed previous elections in the West African nation.
