Thousands demonstrate in opposition to Ouattara's attempt for a fourth term

Last Saturday morning, demonstrators gathered in Yopougon, a densely populated suburb of the capital Abidjan, holding banners with messages like: "Enough is enough!", "No true democracy without true justice," and "We are millions saying Yes to Gbagbo and Thiam." Earlier this year, Gbagbo and Thiam joined forces to challenge the current President Alassane Ouattara. Last month, 83-year-old Ouattara announced his plan to seek a fourth term. His candidacy has faced opposition following his 2016 amendment of the Constitution, which removed presidential term limits. "We do not want a fourth term, and we call for a revision of the electoral roll; that is our demand," said Sagesse Divine, an activist who participated in last Saturday's protest. "We want all candidates' names to be included, and we wish to move to the elections peacefully; that is all we seek." There were no immediate responses from the Ivorian authorities. Thiam, the leader of the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire, won the party's primary in an uncontested election. Seen as Ouattara's main rival, he has been barred from running because he was still a French citizen when he declared his candidacy, despite later renouncing his French citizenship. Ivorian law prohibits dual nationals from running for the presidency.