Ivory Coast rejects election bids of ex-President Gbagbo, ex-rebel leader Soro
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Ivory Coast election authorities rejected appeals by former President Laurent Gbagbo and former rebel leader Guillaume Soro to be allowed to run in the country's October election, an official said Friday.
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President Alassane Ouattara's decision to contest a third term in October has already triggered outrage among opposition and civil society groups, who labelled it a "coup" that risked triggering chaos.
Gbagbo and Soro had appealed to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) against a decision to not include them in electoral lists for the ballot.
"The decisions have been posted since the 18th, the CEI has not granted their requests," Inza Kigbafori, the CEI communications manager, told AFP.
Ouattara, in power since 2010, had said in March that he would not run for re-election. The opposition says he is unable to run because the constitution limits presidents to two terms.
Ouattara changed his position after the sudden death of prime minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly — seen as Ouattara's anointed successor — from a heart attack in July.
The shock news heightened tensions before October 31 vote, which takes place in the shadow cast by violence following 2010's election that killed around 3,000 people.
Gbagbo was freed conditionally by the International Criminal Court (ICC) after he was cleared in 2019 of crimes against humanity.
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