Ivory Coast: Prosecutor Braman Koné denies accusations of kidnapping and enforced disappearances
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the Public Prosecutor at the Abidjan Court of First Instance, Braman Koné, issued a statement responding to accusations of abductions and enforced disappearances attributed to the defense and security forces. According to him, these operations are carried out “under his supervision” and are “regular law enforcement actions,” in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The magistrate denounced a “narrative” promoted by the opposition and certain media outlets, suggesting the existence of militias acting on behalf of the government. He specifically addressed the African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), led by former President Laurent Gbagbo, which accuses the authorities of targeting its supporters with arrests ahead of the October 25 presidential election.
Regarding the use of masks by certain units during arrests, the prosecutor explained that this is a “common operational method in many countries,” and not illegal. He concluded by asserting that “Côte d’Ivoire is experiencing neither abductions, nor unlawful detentions, nor enforced disappearances.”
This statement comes amid a tense political climate, as the approved presidential candidates prepare to launch their campaigns, while those barred from running—among them Pascal Affi Nguessan, Tidjane Thiam, and Laurent Gbagbo—continue to challenge their exclusion.
