Africa News of Monday, 19 October 2020
Source: africanews.com/afp
Politics and Violence
A volatile presidential race with the current head of state Alassane Ouattara seeking a controversial third term saw mounting political tensions culminate in fatal ethnic clashes since Friday.
Pascal Affi N'Guessan, President of the Ivorian Popular Front and current presidential candidate, addressed his supporters, "This phase of civil disobedience aims to prevent the delivery and distribution of any election materials, prevent the display of election posters, prevent campaign rallies, prevent the distribution and collection of voter cards. To demonstrate in all forms, and by all appropriate means, opposition to the ongoing electoral coup d'état."
Civil Disobedience Leads to Belligerence
The clashes began Friday when young Affi N'Guessan supporters erected barricades on the roads, to express the opposition's slogan of "active boycott" of the "electoral process" to "prevent the holding of any operation related to the election" on October 31.
Video received from Ivory Coast: anti 3rd term protests & clashes in Bongouanou ahead of 31st October elections. Residency of opposition candidate Pascal Affi N'Guessan in Bongouanou has also been set on fire just days after he called for the polls to be boycotted. pic.twitter.com/ubYCxpDJLA
— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) October 18, 2020
The machete wielding militias of the dictator of #IvoryCoast protected by the police attacked protesters and burned down homes and businesses of the opposition activists. pic.twitter.com/y2OCPVBIc9
— Boguhe Zalou (@BoguheZalou) October 17, 2020