Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo and Guillaume Soro have staged a protest in France over their removal from Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral list ahead of the October 2025 presidential election.

Gathering outside the European Parliament, demonstrators urged the EU to pressure the Ivorian government to open the electoral process to all candidates. They accused the bloc of past complicity in shaping the country’s political landscape.

In Abidjan, demands for the reinstatement of Gbagbo and Soro continue to grow, as several other opposition figures also face disqualification.

Tensions are rising as critics warn of a narrowing democratic space just months before the vote.