Ivorian opposition figure held on terrorism charge

An Ivorian court has remanded opposition figure Justin Kone Katinan in custody on charges including terrorist acts and conspiracy against the state, prosecutor Oumar Braman Kone said Friday.

Katinan is a vice-president of the PPA-CI party of former president Laurent Gbagbo and served as a minister during Gbagbo's 2000-2011 presidency.

The prosecutor said the court had opened a judicial investigation over electoral unrest in 2025. Violence during the October 2025 election, won by President Alassane Ouattara, left 11 people dead.

Several dozen opposition activists, including senior figures, were arrested or jailed over the unrest. Some have since been released.

Katinan's lawyer, Roselyne Serikpa, told AFP: “These proceedings are irregular and unlawful. They are in complete violation of the penal code.”

The PPA-CI on Thursday denounced what it called a “judicial trap” targeting Katinan. He had initially been summoned by police on Wednesday over defamation accusations by the ruling party after he accused it of being behind the growth of illegal gold mining.