Security forces in Ivory Coast have surrounded the homes of opposition leaders after they rejected President Alassane Ouattara’s re-election and pledged to set up a “transitional government”.
Ouattara, 78, won by a landslide in October 31st elections, which was boycotted by the opposition who said the President’s bid for a third term was unconstitutional. While Ivory Coast has a limit of two presidential terms, Ouattara has insisted the new constitution approved in 2016 allowed him to run again.
Hours after Ouattara was declared the winner of the presidential election with more than 94 percent of the vote, Justice Minister, Sansan Kambile accused the opposition of “acts of assault and plotting against the authority of the state”.
Kambile said, the public prosecutor has been asked to investigate, warning that “all options are on the table.”
Opposition leader Pascal Affi N’Guessan had told reporters earlier that opposition parties and groups were forming a “council of national transition”.
“This council’s mission will be to … create a transitional government within the next few hours … to prepare the framework for a fair, transparent and inclusive presidential election,” N’Guessan said.
He added that the “transitional council” would be led by Henri Konan Bedie, 86, a former president and long-term adversary of Ouattara.
“Keeping Mr Ouattara as head of state could lead to civil war,” he warned.
According to reports, in Abidjan, the economic capital, security forces have blocked off roads close to Bedie’s home.
The forces fired tear gas to disperse small groups of supporters and journalists outside, preventing the staging of a news conference before entering Bedie’s home.
Bedie’s deputy, Maurice Kakou Guikahue was taken away by police, according to several journalists at the scene.
Other reports claim Guikahue was not arrested, but was instead taken back to his home.
Two other opposition figures told reporters that their homes were being guarded by police.
“I am at home, there are 12 officers in the street in front of my house and a police van around the back,” said Assoa Adou, secretary-general of the opposition Ivorian Popular Front.
“I’m fine, but it’s the blockade. We cannot leave my home,” said Albert Abdallah Mabri Toikeusse of the small UDPCI party.
Police were also outside N’Guessan’s home, his spokesman Issiaka Sangare said.
In Daoukro, an opposition stronghold north of Abidjan, anti-Ouattara protesters are also manning barricades.
“These results are a farce,” said one, who gave his name as Firmin. “We are going to carry on with civil disobedience until Ouattara steps down.”
In a joint statement, the UN, African Union and Economic Community of West African States regional bloc called on Ivory Coast’s opposition to “respect constitutional order” and seek dialogue, while urging all sides to show “restraint to preserve human lives”.
Also, European Union diplomacy chief, Josep Borrell, expressed “deep concern over tensions, provocations and incitements to hatred” and called for violence to be “independently investigated”.
The United Nations refugee agency has claimed more than 3,200 people had fled into neighbouring Liberia, Ghana and Togo, fearing violence.
