Declaration of CAP–Côte d’Ivoire: Call for Citizen Vigilance and Democratic Awakening

CAP–Côte d’Ivoire, through its spokesperson Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, alerts national and international public opinion to the alarming deterioration of the socio-political situation in Côte d’Ivoire. This rapid decline is marked by brutal evictions, land tensions, poor sales of agricultural produce, repressed strikes, and growing instability as the 2025 presidential elections approach.

The grim figures from previous elections (30 deaths in 1995, 300 in 2000, 3,000 in 2010, 87 in 2020) are a wake-up call for all political actors on the urgent need for profound change. CAP–Côte d’Ivoire believes it is time to end the cycles of electoral violence by prioritizing dialogue and transparency.

It identifies several major causes of this crisis:

• The government's persistent refusal to engage in inclusive political dialogue, despite repeated appeals from the opposition;

• A revision of the electoral roll marred by irregularities, including the exclusion of newly eligible voters, the presence of minors and deceased persons, and numerous anomalies on the provisional list;

• A deep imbalance within the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), which is now entirely controlled by the ruling party following the withdrawal of representatives from PPA–CI, PDCI–RDA, and FPI;

• The arbitrary exclusion of major political leaders such as Laurent Gbagbo, Guillaume Soro, and Charles Blé Goudé, and attempts to eliminate Tidjane Thiam;

• The plan for a fourth term for the outgoing president, in blatant violation of the Constitution.

In light of this situation, CAP–Côte d’Ivoire puts forward clear demands:

• A new revision of the electoral roll in 2025, in accordance with the electoral code;

• The dissolution of the current CEI and the establishment of a truly independent electoral body;

• A transparent audit of the existing electoral roll;

• The reinstatement of unjustly excluded political leaders;

• Strict respect for the Constitution, especially regarding the two-term limit for the presidency.

As part of this movement, CAP–Côte d’Ivoire announces a major rally on May 31, 2025, in Abidjan, to be followed by other large-scale actions. An awareness and advocacy tour is also planned, targeting embassies, religious and traditional authorities, and unions.

CAP–Côte d’Ivoire calls on its members, supporters, and all Ivorians who value peace, democracy, and justice to remain mobilized, vigilant, and attentive to upcoming directives. It reaffirms its commitment to using all legal and democratic means to ensure inclusive, transparent, and violence-free elections.