August 7, 2025 • 14 mins
Opposition parties are protesting in Abidjan after court rulings blocked key opposition figures from standing in October’s presidential election. The decisions paved the way for 83 year-old President Alassane Ouattara to seek a controversial fourth term.
On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Abidjan-based reporter Kamailoudini Tagba joins Jennifer Zabasajja and talks about what’s behind the process, how President Ouattara is regarded in Ivory Coast and what hopes there are for fair and peaceful elections in October.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Protesters have taken to the streets in the Ivory Coast
as opposition leaders have been blocked from October's general election.
Eighty three year old President Alassan Watara looks set to
extend his rule of the world's biggest cocoa producer, but
(00:31):
there's growing fears the election could turn violent.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
We say to President Alassan Watara, the Ivorian law, the
Ivorian constitution has provided that he can take his pen
to write an amnesty law to erase all this.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
On this episode of The Next Africa Podcast, we'll look
at what's behind the protests in Abijan and whether this
week's action is a sign of more unrest to come.
I'm Jennifer Zambasaja, and this is the Next Africa Podcast,
bringing you one story each week from the continent driving
the future of global growth, but the context only Bloomberg
(01:13):
can provide. And joining me this week is our reporter
Kamai Ludini Tagba, who is in Abijan and reports for
us for Bloomberg Comal, it's your first time on the podcast.
Thanks so much for coming. I was in the Ivory
Coast earlier this year with you and got to see
(01:33):
a bit on the ground, which we'll talk about in
a bit, but let's just start maybe with a bit
of context on what we've seen over the past few
days and what really led to the protests. Talk to
us about what was behind it and what it means
for the elections coming up in October.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Afriquency is actually corens are preparing elections in October, and
this jation right now is that majority of big names
in oppositions have been left out of this election. The
likes of Gentam, the formacye of Creditsus, the former president
around Bago, for my Prime Minister gam Sorrow and for
(02:15):
my youth Minister Blackwood Day, all of them have been
left out of the votest list. So this has caused
some havoc in the country. People are so angry at
the president. The thing the president controls the ruling party
of Alasandrama Water controls the electoral Commission, which the commission
rejects totally. So people want Bagbo, Gentam and Blackwood Day
(02:39):
and as well as Kumsoro to be on the votest
list because they believe that if they are on the
votest with the election will be very inclusive and very democratic.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
So it's it's really been building up. It seems like
the tensions on the ground. Talk to us about President Watara,
because as you mentioned, he's been in office for for
quite some time. Can you give us a bit of
background about who he is and what the response has
been to his administration and some of the things that
he's done.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
President Watara is very well known in africause he's he
takes himself for being the head of the funding father
of Fanny because he was very young when he started
working for fubuany he was working for the International Monetary
Fund as a director and he was recruited by the
president to come and help the country to REVEALMP the economy,
(03:30):
which he did pretty well. And then after he was
a prime minister by then, when Fubani died, he became
very popular in the country. He went to a new
position because after Futbar died, it was a food by
Speaker of the parliament back then was Ariconnabidi of PDCI
that took over. So he is very popular in the
(03:52):
sub region. The model of economy of Africos has become
role model for every country in the sub scenaria, especially
Franco fund countries. I know that Gobon Guinea knacre all
of them taking advice from what are So he has
really refound the economy of this country. When it's come
to infrastructure, a lot has been done it. In terms
(04:13):
of education, he builds a number of universities. I think
the country was having two university when he came to power.
They are now they're having up to ten universities under
his leadership. He also built several bridges and he also
builds so many infrastructures. When it's come to schools, hospitals,
he also evened the economy and economy is doing pretty
(04:36):
well when it's come to ratues and also currently the
country is home to twenty four companies that are at
leasted on stock market. The stock market is here in Africast.
We have forty seven of them in total. Thirty four
of them are in agricust So this is a very
big economy. Now when it's come to creative people believe
(04:57):
that he has done all this by borrowing money from
international banks, which they don't like. They believe that he
has indebted the country and when he leaves, people believe
that that will remain on the plate and then the
country will be suffered from that. You know, in Africa,
we have this tendency of not accepting that. People don't
like that. When you hear that you oralism funds from somebody,
(05:18):
they believe that you are tied to the person. Most
importantly is I don't want to say he's overstaying, but
the fact that he has extended his leadership is t
neer in the power. So people don't like that because
the region has been so much familiar with those things.
When it takes countries like to Go, when it takes
countries and Guinea, the Gambia, when it takes countries like Clinger,
(05:39):
all these countries witness some leaders who stay too much
in power, so people do not want these things to
happen again. What is so far the elderly leader so
far in the region who has been in power for
more than fifteen years. Afridia themselves are so proud of
themselves and they also want to make sure they have
a leader who really he represents them, so they don't
(06:02):
want to see a leader who overstays too much in power.
But at the same time he has a very huge support.
I remember late June when the organize the last day
of the congress. It happened in the biggest stadium in
the state of the country where they play in the
final of African Cappopination twenty twenty three. But as of
course one, it's a big stadium that they were able
(06:24):
to bring together over one hundred thousand people comel.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Is it fair to say that it's less about the
policies that we've seen from the current president, because as
you were mentioning, Ivory Coast has been one of the
fastest growing economies on the continent in the world. There's
a lot of other economies on the continent trying to
replicate it. It's less about what we've seen him do,
and it's more so the frustration is more so about
(06:50):
people and the government blocking opposition candidates from running and
him extending his day. Is that a fair assessment, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It's a fair assessment. Champ has some challenge within his
own party. The court said charm was elected was still
holding his friend citistenship, which is contrary to the whose
internal rules of the party. There is a law in
Agricles that which says that political party should be led
by avariance people solely Avarian, uniquely avarient. You shouldn't have
(07:22):
a Geo citizenship. He also in a role on the
votes is still holding when you were still holding that
geos citizenship. Then people challenged that. They went to call
to the challenge. They said, okay, the Electoral co said
you should only be a voiant when you're on the
votes list. So this guy a champ gave up his
friend chasttionship in February, in February this year, so people said,
(07:46):
so if he gave up his French claztionship in February
this year, it means that when he was enrolling on
the votest list it was still French. That was the
reason why the court decided to remove him from the
from the votest list.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
And is that the same case for the other opposition candidates.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
No, Babo was actually condemned or sentenced by a court
here in Africas over a case that is related to
the Central Bank of West Africa. In twenty nineteen, WARA
pandoned him, but he did not ar restore his civic rights.
So right now, the reason why Babo is none of
(08:24):
what is that he does not have his civic rights
that can allow to vote or to run as a candidate.
So that's the issue right now on the ground.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
And so Camal, you were talking about some of the
other cases against the other opposition candidates. What's what's been
the response to those?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
There hasn't been any responsible And there are two cases
here that can happen in case that should be in
a response. Either the President Tara issued a decree that
is restoring the civic rights of wrong Babo, but even
this has to go to the parliament or the two sides,
(09:02):
I mean the opposition the ruling Putty all sit down
together and then starting organizations on how to make sure
that the democratic elections this October, or to make sure
that all big names in the politics position also participates
in the elections.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Come on, stick with us when we come back from break.
We're going to talk a bit more about some of
the response that we've seen this week on the ground
and whether we're likely to see more protests as we
head closer to the election. We'll be right back, Welcome
back today on the podcast, we're digging into the Ivory
(09:40):
Coast and protests by opposition supporters over their candidates being
blocked from the presidential election, Kamaludini taked about our Loomberg
reporter in Aba Jana. Still with me, So, Kamal, how
big have the protests been this week? Talk to us
about what we've seen and maybe what we expect over
the next few weeks and months on the ground.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
When it's come to the position, we have few coalitions,
one formed by Bago and Jamp. That coalition was formed
in June this year. Before that coalition that front, there
was another coalition that that pushed together several political parties
including the BBC of Gen Champ and the Party of
(10:21):
the of the ex wife of Babo Small Bible. But
Chams and Bubu's coalition is more powerful than theirs. So
we currently have two coalitions. We were supposed to have
the first protest organized by Babo and Cham second August
last week, but that protest has been canceled and postponed
(10:43):
to I guess nine, which is this coming Saturday, Saturday, right,
So this next actually will have a big protest coming
from these two political parties, which are the most powerful
position parties in Avicos. Meanwhile, on Friday, last Friday, they
happened an incident in one of the most populos districts
(11:06):
of Abi Down it used to be a songhull of
Lauren Babo. So there were a group of people armed
with catalysts and matches matches is that attacked police force
a police van and then they attacked the van and
they also put fire to a public bus. A couple
of people were arrested. Police investigations revealed that the people
(11:29):
who were behind the incident were linked to Babo's party.
So this has put more pressure on Bubble's party right
now and those who were organizing the leaders of the
coming such a protest where someone by police. They were
staying police Costudy for several hours for questioning. They were
investigated and they were later let go home the following
(11:53):
day in the morning, early in the morning. So there
is a bit of tension right now in the.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Country well, and it still does really seem like tensions
are quite high considering all of this. What is the
discussion around a free and fair election come the end
of the year. Are people hopeful that will see that
or is this going to be a bumpy ride through
and through.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Those supporters of what I believe that elections will be
free and fair. Bubble let's be from Babo has been
a very powerful guy in this country. It's all powerful
political figure. It's been the first and William to withstand
the funding father, so people have so much respect to him.
People believe that if they don't go Baboam and others
(12:39):
are not on the least, the elections will not be fair.
That's what oppositions believe. But at the same time, part
is close to what I believe that Okay, this happened
in the past. Babo went through once his second channel
in power without any opposition, so back then, it does
not criticize the turnout or the digitis as a result
of the book.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
There's quite a lot to pay attention to, especially as
you point out, this is a very important economy for
the continent. Kamaludini, thank you so much for your reporting.
We know you'll be continuing to follow this, so we
appreciate you joining us on the podcast this week, and
you can read Kamaia Ludini's exclusive report across Bloomberg platforms.
Now here's a few other stories we're watching in the
(13:22):
region this week. At least three hundred and nineteen people,
including dozens of women and children, were killed by the
Rwanda backed M twenty three rebel group that's active in
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the United Nations
Agency for Human Rights, the killings happen in the same
month that Congo and the M twenty three rebel group
(13:44):
signed a so called declaration of Principles to end fighting
after months of talks, and Elon Musk's Starlink service is
losing at shine with Kenyan consumers. Some Kenyans turned to
the satellite communications service after the government tried to restrict
access to the Internet during last year's protests that left
(14:04):
more than sixty people dead. Anti government demonstrations returned in June,
but this time Starlink's appeal has faded, with Starlink's high
costs and slow speeds deterring many users. And you can
follow these stories across Bloomberg, including the Next African Newsletter.
Will put a link to that in the show notes.
(14:26):
This program was produced by Adrian Bradley and tiwa Adebayo.
Don't forget to follow and review the show wherever you
usually get your podcasts. I'm Jennifer's Abasaja. Thanks as always
for listening.
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Protesters have taken to the streets in the Ivory Coast
as opposition leaders have been blocked from October's general election.
Eighty three year old President Alassan Watara looks set to
extend his rule of the world's biggest cocoa producer, but
(00:31):
there's growing fears the election could turn violent.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
We say to President Alassan Watara, the Ivorian law, the
Ivorian constitution has provided that he can take his pen
to write an amnesty law to erase all this.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
On this episode of The Next Africa Podcast, we'll look
at what's behind the protests in Abijan and whether this
week's action is a sign of more unrest to come.
I'm Jennifer Zambasaja, and this is the Next Africa Podcast,
bringing you one story each week from the continent driving
the future of global growth, but the context only Bloomberg
(01:13):
can provide. And joining me this week is our reporter
Kamai Ludini Tagba, who is in Abijan and reports for
us for Bloomberg Comal, it's your first time on the podcast.
Thanks so much for coming. I was in the Ivory
Coast earlier this year with you and got to see
(01:33):
a bit on the ground, which we'll talk about in
a bit, but let's just start maybe with a bit
of context on what we've seen over the past few
days and what really led to the protests. Talk to
us about what was behind it and what it means
for the elections coming up in October.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Afriquency is actually corens are preparing elections in October, and
this jation right now is that majority of big names
in oppositions have been left out of this election. The
likes of Gentam, the formacye of Creditsus, the former president
around Bago, for my Prime Minister gam Sorrow and for
(02:15):
my youth Minister Blackwood Day, all of them have been
left out of the votest list. So this has caused
some havoc in the country. People are so angry at
the president. The thing the president controls the ruling party
of Alasandrama Water controls the electoral Commission, which the commission
rejects totally. So people want Bagbo, Gentam and Blackwood Day
(02:39):
and as well as Kumsoro to be on the votest
list because they believe that if they are on the
votest with the election will be very inclusive and very democratic.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
So it's it's really been building up. It seems like
the tensions on the ground. Talk to us about President Watara,
because as you mentioned, he's been in office for for
quite some time. Can you give us a bit of
background about who he is and what the response has
been to his administration and some of the things that
he's done.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
President Watara is very well known in africause he's he
takes himself for being the head of the funding father
of Fanny because he was very young when he started
working for fubuany he was working for the International Monetary
Fund as a director and he was recruited by the
president to come and help the country to REVEALMP the economy,
(03:30):
which he did pretty well. And then after he was
a prime minister by then, when Fubani died, he became
very popular in the country. He went to a new
position because after Futbar died, it was a food by
Speaker of the parliament back then was Ariconnabidi of PDCI
that took over. So he is very popular in the
(03:52):
sub region. The model of economy of Africos has become
role model for every country in the sub scenaria, especially
Franco fund countries. I know that Gobon Guinea knacre all
of them taking advice from what are So he has
really refound the economy of this country. When it's come
to infrastructure, a lot has been done it. In terms
(04:13):
of education, he builds a number of universities. I think
the country was having two university when he came to power.
They are now they're having up to ten universities under
his leadership. He also built several bridges and he also
builds so many infrastructures. When it's come to schools, hospitals,
he also evened the economy and economy is doing pretty
(04:36):
well when it's come to ratues and also currently the
country is home to twenty four companies that are at
leasted on stock market. The stock market is here in Africast.
We have forty seven of them in total. Thirty four
of them are in agricust So this is a very
big economy. Now when it's come to creative people believe
(04:57):
that he has done all this by borrowing money from
international banks, which they don't like. They believe that he
has indebted the country and when he leaves, people believe
that that will remain on the plate and then the
country will be suffered from that. You know, in Africa,
we have this tendency of not accepting that. People don't
like that. When you hear that you oralism funds from somebody,
(05:18):
they believe that you are tied to the person. Most
importantly is I don't want to say he's overstaying, but
the fact that he has extended his leadership is t
neer in the power. So people don't like that because
the region has been so much familiar with those things.
When it takes countries like to Go, when it takes
countries and Guinea, the Gambia, when it takes countries like Clinger,
(05:39):
all these countries witness some leaders who stay too much
in power, so people do not want these things to
happen again. What is so far the elderly leader so
far in the region who has been in power for
more than fifteen years. Afridia themselves are so proud of
themselves and they also want to make sure they have
a leader who really he represents them, so they don't
(06:02):
want to see a leader who overstays too much in power.
But at the same time he has a very huge support.
I remember late June when the organize the last day
of the congress. It happened in the biggest stadium in
the state of the country where they play in the
final of African Cappopination twenty twenty three. But as of
course one, it's a big stadium that they were able
(06:24):
to bring together over one hundred thousand people comel.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Is it fair to say that it's less about the
policies that we've seen from the current president, because as
you were mentioning, Ivory Coast has been one of the
fastest growing economies on the continent in the world. There's
a lot of other economies on the continent trying to
replicate it. It's less about what we've seen him do,
and it's more so the frustration is more so about
(06:50):
people and the government blocking opposition candidates from running and
him extending his day. Is that a fair assessment, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It's a fair assessment. Champ has some challenge within his
own party. The court said charm was elected was still
holding his friend citistenship, which is contrary to the whose
internal rules of the party. There is a law in
Agricles that which says that political party should be led
by avariance people solely Avarian, uniquely avarient. You shouldn't have
(07:22):
a Geo citizenship. He also in a role on the
votes is still holding when you were still holding that
geos citizenship. Then people challenged that. They went to call
to the challenge. They said, okay, the Electoral co said
you should only be a voiant when you're on the
votes list. So this guy a champ gave up his
friend chasttionship in February, in February this year, so people said,
(07:46):
so if he gave up his French claztionship in February
this year, it means that when he was enrolling on
the votest list it was still French. That was the
reason why the court decided to remove him from the
from the votest list.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
And is that the same case for the other opposition candidates.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
No, Babo was actually condemned or sentenced by a court
here in Africas over a case that is related to
the Central Bank of West Africa. In twenty nineteen, WARA
pandoned him, but he did not ar restore his civic rights.
So right now, the reason why Babo is none of
(08:24):
what is that he does not have his civic rights
that can allow to vote or to run as a candidate.
So that's the issue right now on the ground.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
And so Camal, you were talking about some of the
other cases against the other opposition candidates. What's what's been
the response to those?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
There hasn't been any responsible And there are two cases
here that can happen in case that should be in
a response. Either the President Tara issued a decree that
is restoring the civic rights of wrong Babo, but even
this has to go to the parliament or the two sides,
(09:02):
I mean the opposition the ruling Putty all sit down
together and then starting organizations on how to make sure
that the democratic elections this October, or to make sure
that all big names in the politics position also participates
in the elections.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Come on, stick with us when we come back from break.
We're going to talk a bit more about some of
the response that we've seen this week on the ground
and whether we're likely to see more protests as we
head closer to the election. We'll be right back, Welcome
back today on the podcast, we're digging into the Ivory
(09:40):
Coast and protests by opposition supporters over their candidates being
blocked from the presidential election, Kamaludini taked about our Loomberg
reporter in Aba Jana. Still with me, So, Kamal, how
big have the protests been this week? Talk to us
about what we've seen and maybe what we expect over
the next few weeks and months on the ground.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
When it's come to the position, we have few coalitions,
one formed by Bago and Jamp. That coalition was formed
in June this year. Before that coalition that front, there
was another coalition that that pushed together several political parties
including the BBC of Gen Champ and the Party of
(10:21):
the of the ex wife of Babo Small Bible. But
Chams and Bubu's coalition is more powerful than theirs. So
we currently have two coalitions. We were supposed to have
the first protest organized by Babo and Cham second August
last week, but that protest has been canceled and postponed
(10:43):
to I guess nine, which is this coming Saturday, Saturday, right,
So this next actually will have a big protest coming
from these two political parties, which are the most powerful
position parties in Avicos. Meanwhile, on Friday, last Friday, they
happened an incident in one of the most populos districts
(11:06):
of Abi Down it used to be a songhull of
Lauren Babo. So there were a group of people armed
with catalysts and matches matches is that attacked police force
a police van and then they attacked the van and
they also put fire to a public bus. A couple
of people were arrested. Police investigations revealed that the people
(11:29):
who were behind the incident were linked to Babo's party.
So this has put more pressure on Bubble's party right
now and those who were organizing the leaders of the
coming such a protest where someone by police. They were
staying police Costudy for several hours for questioning. They were
investigated and they were later let go home the following
(11:53):
day in the morning, early in the morning. So there
is a bit of tension right now in the.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Country well, and it still does really seem like tensions
are quite high considering all of this. What is the
discussion around a free and fair election come the end
of the year. Are people hopeful that will see that
or is this going to be a bumpy ride through
and through.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Those supporters of what I believe that elections will be
free and fair. Bubble let's be from Babo has been
a very powerful guy in this country. It's all powerful
political figure. It's been the first and William to withstand
the funding father, so people have so much respect to him.
People believe that if they don't go Baboam and others
(12:39):
are not on the least, the elections will not be fair.
That's what oppositions believe. But at the same time, part
is close to what I believe that Okay, this happened
in the past. Babo went through once his second channel
in power without any opposition, so back then, it does
not criticize the turnout or the digitis as a result
of the book.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
There's quite a lot to pay attention to, especially as
you point out, this is a very important economy for
the continent. Kamaludini, thank you so much for your reporting.
We know you'll be continuing to follow this, so we
appreciate you joining us on the podcast this week, and
you can read Kamaia Ludini's exclusive report across Bloomberg platforms.
Now here's a few other stories we're watching in the
(13:22):
region this week. At least three hundred and nineteen people,
including dozens of women and children, were killed by the
Rwanda backed M twenty three rebel group that's active in
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the United Nations
Agency for Human Rights, the killings happen in the same
month that Congo and the M twenty three rebel group
(13:44):
signed a so called declaration of Principles to end fighting
after months of talks, and Elon Musk's Starlink service is
losing at shine with Kenyan consumers. Some Kenyans turned to
the satellite communications service after the government tried to restrict
access to the Internet during last year's protests that left
(14:04):
more than sixty people dead. Anti government demonstrations returned in June,
but this time Starlink's appeal has faded, with Starlink's high
costs and slow speeds deterring many users. And you can
follow these stories across Bloomberg, including the Next African Newsletter.
Will put a link to that in the show notes.
(14:26):
This program was produced by Adrian Bradley and tiwa Adebayo.
Don't forget to follow and review the show wherever you
usually get your podcasts. I'm Jennifer's Abasaja. Thanks as always
for listening.
Host
Jennifer Zabasajja
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