Fri Jun 20 11:25:18 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article:
**Summary:**
Tensions are escalating in Ivory Coast as the October elections approach, raising fears of renewed violence similar to the 2011 civil war. The controversy centers on President Alassane Ouattara’s likely bid for a fourth term and the exclusion of key opposition figures from the ballot, most notably Tidjane Thiam. Thiam, a popular businessman, was deemed ineligible due to a past acquisition of French citizenship, a move his supporters claim is politically motivated by Ouattara to eliminate competition. Thousands of Thiam’s supporters protested in Abidjan, decrying the decision as anti-democratic and potentially destabilizing. Other prominent opposition leaders, including former President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro, have also been barred. While Ouattara’s supporters held rallies of their own, some analysts warn that excluding key candidates and reviving identity politics could trigger unrest, especially given the country’s history.
**News Article:**
**Ivory Coast Braces for Tense Elections as Opposition Exclusion Sparks Protests**
**Abidjan, Ivory Coast** – Weeks ahead of the crucial October elections, Ivory Coast is on edge amid rising political tensions and fears of a repeat of the violence that engulfed the nation in 2011. The focal point of the controversy is the likely candidacy of incumbent President Alassane Ouattara for a fourth term, compounded by the exclusion of key opposition figures from the ballot.
Thousands of supporters of presidential hopeful Tidjane Thiam, clad in the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast’s colors, marched on the electoral commission’s offices in Abidjan Saturday. They protested Thiam’s disqualification, chanting slogans and holding signs that read “There’s no Plan B!”. Thiam was removed from the candidate list after the commission ruled he was ineligible due to previously holding French citizenship. The PDCI party secretary, Sylvestre Emmou, condemned Thiam’s removal, calling it “unacceptable and dangerous for peace and democracy.”
The political climate is further strained by the exclusion of other prominent opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, due to past convictions.
Critics accuse Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, of manipulating the system to secure another term and eliminate competition. The 2020 elections, boycotted by the opposition, were marred by violence after Ouattara ran for a third time despite term limits.
While Ouattara’s supporters rallied in Yopougon, analysts warn that the exclusion of key candidates could inflame old divisions and lead to instability. “He will be seen as a candidate who had to exclude all other serious candidates to impose himself,” said politics professor Sylvain N’Guessan.
The upcoming weeks will be critical in determining whether Ivory Coast can navigate this tense political landscape peacefully and avoid a return to the violence that marked its recent past.
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