Joel N’Guessan, a former human rights minister and ex-spokesperson for Ivory Coast’s ruling party, has been detained after publicly condemning the judiciary’s decision to exclude opposition figures from the upcoming presidential election in October.
The courts have barred four opposition leaders, including former president Laurent Gbagbo, from running in the October 25 poll, sparking significant controversy.
N’Guessan told AFP he was arrested on Wednesday on charges of “discrediting the judicial institution and magistrates,” with local media reporting he faces prosecution for contempt of court.
Public prosecutor Oumar Braman Kone confirmed a judicial inquiry has been launched regarding statements attributed to N’Guessan, which were deemed damaging to the credibility of the justice system.
In an online interview, N’Guessan warned that excluding key political actors could trigger a national crisis. “If tomorrow brings disturbances in the country, the main parties responsible will be the judges,” he said.
Police arrested N’Guessan at his home, and after being questioned, he was brought before the public prosecutor and placed in remand without the presence of his lawyer.
Ivory Coast has a history of election-related violence. The disputed 2010-2011 presidential election, where President Alassane Ouattara’s victory was contested by Gbagbo, led to unrest that caused approximately 3,000 deaths.
The ruling party maintains that electoral matters remain under the purview of an independent judiciary and denies any political interference in the process.
