At least 237 protesters were arrested in Ivory Coast on Saturday during a banned opposition march in Abidjan. Police used tear gas and blocked roads to stop the demonstration against what activists called growing authoritarianism.
The protest came two weeks before the presidential election in the country of 32 million people. Opposition leaders, including Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, were barred from running earlier this year. President Alassane Ouattara, in power since 2010, is seeking a controversial fourth term after changing the constitution in 2016. Authorities said the march was illegal and that participants would face justice.
Past elections have often turned violent, raising fears of unrest. Ouattara says he is running again to tackle economic and security challenges, including threats from extremist groups spreading from the Sahel.
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