In the spotlight: a Thursday under high tension in Ivory Coast

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By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

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“  A week ago, Alassane Ouattara announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Republic, going back on his promise to leave and explaining that he did not want to let the work accomplished under his mandates be destroyed. At the age of 78, he is therefore back at the head of his troops. This time, he will have to reckon without his allies of yesterday, but with his record of which he is proud. Considered illegal by his opponents, this candidacy will certainly not fail to crystallize all the debates and all the attentions in this electoral campaign which promises to be arduous.  "

This is what Le Point Afrique wrote just after the announcement of Ouattara's candidacy. And indeed, the debates are lively and even more. The opposition as a whole challenges the right of the outgoing president to stand for re-election. And in the street, tension mounts between activists from both sides.

" The blood has started to flow "

The city of “  Daoukro, stronghold of the President of the PDCI, Henri Konan Bédié was in turmoil yesterday , reports L'Intelligent. Demonstrations against the presidential candidacy of President Ouattara have resulted in acts of vandalism and there are victims : one dead and many injured. The local headquarters of the RHDP, the presidential rally, was ransacked. In response, the young people of the RHDP sacked that of the party led by Bédié.  "

“  The blood has started to flow , deplores Fraternité Matin . Everything is in the process of being put in place so that this kind of confrontation multiplies throughout the country. Obviously, no one will emerge victorious (…). It is fate that strikes this country , sighs the daily Abidjan, a country doomed to an eternal renewal (…). We have rediscovered our hateful speeches of yesteryear, our calls for murder, exclusion, our offenses of patronymic and facies.  "

In any case, comments for his part The Intelligent, "  the power will test its capacity for resistance and resilience, he who since 2011 seems to have governed quietly, without too much dispute. Opposite, the opposition wants to test its pressure, its mobilization capacity. Then we will have to come back to the discussion table. What happens is a normal sequence !  "

Events across the country

What is certain is that the Ivorian opposition does not want to be told. She calls for a demonstration this Thursday across the country. And several yesterday's allies of President Ouattara are joining the movement, such as “  Albert Mabri Toikeusse ,” reports L'Infodrome , the president of the UDPCI has just joined the deed to his word. After announcing with great fanfare his departure from the RHDP on August 2, he has just decided to publicly oppose President Ouattara by inviting his activists to join the opposition march on Thursday.  "

" A volcano with deadly eruptions "

In fact, observes Le Pays in Burkina Faso, "  the socio-political mercury is only rising in Côte d'Ivoire and this, since President Ouattara decided to re-stack for a third term following the disappearance of his dolphin, Amadou. Gon Coulibaly. The exits of the leaders of the Ivorian political opposition were followed by street demonstrations which, for the moment, were still spontaneous and sporadic. But a new course is likely to be crossed, this August 13, with the formal call of the opposition to the place of "all the Ivorian youth" to "occupy the streets in all the cities, all the camps, villages" of the country to demand respect for the Constitution. This Thursday is therefore the day of all dangers in the land of the Elephant ; the risks of overflows and even clashes are so high in this country whose political scene resembles, in many respects, a volcano with deadly eruptions.  "

What will Ouattara do ?

Finally, points out L'Observateur Paalga , “  the big question that is on everyone's lips is to know what attitude the Ivorian authorities will have towards or against this demonstration which will doubtless not be the last. Will Ouattara adopt a profile of a good prince by letting the street express itself ... or will he play the card of firmness against those who want to prevent him from running for a third term ? The answer to this question will depend on the political future of a country which has not yet finished settling the accounts of the serious post-election crisis of 2011.  "

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