Ban on protests in Ivory Coast ends ahead of polls

A ban on public demonstrations in Ivory Coast ends on Wednesday just as the opposition plans to begin a campaign of civil disobedience against President Alassane Ouattara’s third term bid.

The opposition is demanding changes to the constitutional court, the electoral commission, and the withdrawal of Mr Ouattara’s candidacy.

Mr Ouattara has accused the opposition of scaring the public in order to disrupt the electoral process.

International Crisis Group has urged the Ivorian authorities to allow former President Laurent Gbagbo and exiled ex-Speaker Guillaume Soro to return to the country.

Supporters of Gbagbo and Soro have condemned the government for excluding them from the presidential election and threatened to hold protests.

A weekend rally by the opposition, which has urged a united front against the president, registered a low turnout.