Police in Côte d’Ivoire have arrested about 100 young people in Béttié, a town in the eastern part of the country, following an arson attack on the local Gendarmerie Brigade.

The arrests were confirmed in a statement by the prosecutor at the Abengourou Court of First Instance, which revealed the involvement of the suspects in the violent incident.

The unrest began after local youths protested against gendarmerie observation posts along Béttié’s access routes, expressing their frustrations over what they deemed excessive monitoring.

Authorities have since intensified efforts to restore calm in the region while investigating the attack, which underscores growing tensions between the community and security forces