Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

5 minutes read. Updated 1:59PM GMT Mon, 11nt November, 2024

Ivory Coast is gearing up for its 2025 presidential election, with political parties mobilizing and positioning key candidates to take on the electoral challenge. Over the weekend, former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan was officially nominated as the candidate for the Popular Ivorian Front (FPI) at a party congress held in Yamoussoukro, the nation’s administrative capital. The congress, attended by approximately 4,500 party members, saw N’Guessan re-elected as the FPI president with an overwhelming 99.34% of votes.

The Popular Ivorian Front (FPI) party, led by N’Guessan since the 2010 arrest of former President Laurent Gbagbo, remains one of the leading opposition forces in Ivorian politics. Gbagbo, once the FPI head, was detained on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity and later acquitted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Since then, N’Guessan has carried the FPI’s mantle, emerging as a critical figure in the opposition landscape.

N’Guessan’s Political History and Vision

N’Guessan has been vocal about key political reforms, which form the core of his campaign. Some of his major proposals include:

  • Abolition of the Ivorian Senate – N’Guessan has argued that the Senate, established in 2016, is unnecessary and drains national resources.
  • Reinstatement of Presidential Term Limits – In a nation where term limits have been a significant point of contention, N’Guessan advocates for a return to clear and enforceable term restrictions for the head of state.

These proposals reflect N’Guessan’s long-standing commitment to fostering transparency and reducing political power consolidation. “Ivory Coast deserves a system that prioritizes the people and limits excessive political control,” he stated at the congress.

Ouattara’s Potential Fourth Term Uncertain

Although President Alassane Ouattara has yet to declare his intentions for 2025, speculation abounds. His controversial 2020 re-election followed a constitutional amendment that allowed him to bypass previous term limits, leading to widespread protests and unrest. Should Ouattara choose to pursue a fourth term, the Ivorian political landscape may once again witness tensions between continuity and calls for change.

Ivory Coast’s Political Climate in the Lead-Up to 2025

Ivory Coast, a leading cocoa exporter and economic hub in West Africa, faces critical social and political questions as the election approaches. The post-Gbagbo era has seen significant strides towards stability, yet challenges remain. The 2025 election will test the nation’s democratic resilience, particularly with concerns over electoral transparency and potential security risks.

The presence of strong candidates such as N’Guessan, coupled with his reform-driven agenda, is expected to shape the 2025 campaign discourse. Observers predict that the upcoming election will be a significant milestone in Ivorian politics, possibly redefining the nation’s democratic trajectory.

For the international community and Ivorian citizens alike, the 2025 presidential election represents both hope and uncertainty. As the political dynamics evolve, all eyes will be on Ivory Coast as it seeks to consolidate democracy and address the lingering divisions in the wake of past conflicts.

Meta Description

Ivory Coast’s political scene heats up as Pascal Affi N’Guessan is announced as the Popular Ivorian Front’s 2025 presidential candidate. His reform-driven platform focuses on abolishing the Senate and reinstating presidential term limits. With incumbent President Alassane Ouattara’s plans yet unknown, tensions mount over potential candidacies.

Socialist lawmaker Nabila Mounib raised a powerful argument, lamenting the restrictions on Moroccan imams when discussing the Palestinian struggle. “No imam can speak about the Palestinian issue,” Mounib stated on Tuesday, November 5th. Her comments underscore a concern shared by many activists, who argue that the limitations suppress open discussion on a matter they believe aligns with Morocco’s longstanding support for Palestine.

Government Response and Activist Concerns

The Moroccan Ministry of Islamic Affairs has previously addressed this topic, refuting claims that there are limitations on sermons about Palestine. Last October, the ministry described a circulating document on social media, purportedly outlining sermon restrictions, as fake. It emphasized Morocco’s ongoing support for the Palestinian cause. Minister of Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq further denied Mounib’s allegations, asserting that imams are permitted to “denounce barbarism and injustice.”

Nonetheless, Moroccan activists continue to view these restrictions as symptomatic of a broader tension between state directives and public opinion. “Imams have a right to take a stand and, in Islam, even have a duty,” said Ahmed Wehman of the Moroccan Observatory for Anti-Normalization. Wehman criticized the government, suggesting that its stance does not genuinely reflect Moroccan public sentiment regarding Israel and Palestine.

A Divisive Issue Amid Morocco-Israel Relations

Morocco’s decision to normalize ties with Israel in 2020 has generated a mixed response domestically. Protests have regularly taken place in the streets of cities across Morocco, with diverse political groups—ranging from left-wing activists to members of the Islamist Al Adl Wal Ihsane movement—demanding the government cut diplomatic ties with Israel.

Geopolitical analyst Hicheme Lehmici suggests that Morocco’s inflation, particularly in housing prices, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine are fueling discontent and a burgeoning social protest movement. “The partnership binding Morocco to Israel has been difficult to accept for most Moroccans,” Lehmici noted. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has stirred previously unseen criticism of the monarchy, a significant shift for a population that traditionally supports Morocco’s ruling institution.

State Control Over Religious Sermons

Experts note that Morocco’s approach to regulating sermons is part of a longstanding strategy in the Middle East and North Africa, where governments aim to balance religious identity with political stability. Francesco Cavatorta, a political science professor at Université Laval, notes that many North African nations, including Morocco, maintain control over religious discourse. “In Morocco, the regulation is part of an effort to be seen as a Muslim country that is also tolerant and welcoming,” he explained.

Morocco’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs issues sermon guidelines every Wednesday, directing imams ahead of Friday prayers. This regulation is intended to ensure that religious discourse aligns with national values and does not incite unrest, especially in the context of sensitive issues like foreign relations.

Protests and Public Response

The Moroccan public’s reaction has been strong, with demonstrations in several cities calling for an end to diplomatic relations with Israel. The diversity of the protesting groups, spanning the political spectrum, illustrates how the Palestinian cause resonates widely among Moroccans. Some have taken to social media to voice their discontent, with some activists facing consequences such as arrest and imprisonment.

Historic Roots of Sermon Control

Morocco’s history of sermon regulation goes beyond the Israel-Palestine conflict. In 2017, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs directed imams to condemn anti-government protests in Morocco’s northern Rif region. In a dramatic protest against this regulation, prominent activist Nasser Zefzafi interrupted a sermon, questioning whether the mosque served the monarchy or God. Zefzafi’s actions led to his arrest, and he remains one of Morocco’s most prominent political prisoners.

Wider Regional Context

Morocco’s stance contrasts with that of imams in countries like Turkey, where officials freely address the Israel-Palestine issue. Turkish religious leaders have recently emphasized unity and solidarity among Muslims in the face of oppression, a sentiment not openly echoed in Morocco’s controlled religious discourse.

Meta Description: Explore the debate in Morocco on limiting religious sermons about the Gaza war. Politicians and activists question whether these restrictions reflect government control over religious discourse and public opinion.