A tragic stampede claimed the lives of four people following a major political rally organized by Ivory Coast’s ruling party over the weekend, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident occurred outside Abidjan’s Ebimpe Stadium on Sunday, shortly after a massive gathering of supporters of the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), the party led by President Alassane Ouattara.
According to Amede Koffi Kouakou, the party’s organizing committee chairman and Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance, the stampede broke out as attendees were exiting the stadium after the event had concluded.
“It was as we were returning home, outside the stadium, that there was a stampede,” Kouakou said, expressing his “deepest condolences to the families of the victims” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
The rally, which drew an estimated crowd of 60,000 people, had been a highly anticipated moment in the political calendar, as President Ouattara hinted he would soon announce whether he would seek a fourth term in the country’s upcoming October presidential election.
In a show of solidarity, Minister of Employment and Social Protection Adama Kamara visited the injured at a hospital in Anyama, near the stadium.
“Our thoughts go out to the deceased victims,” Kamara said during the visit.
Authorities have yet to provide details on what triggered the stampede, but investigations are underway. Security measures at political events in Ivory Coast have come under renewed scrutiny as the country prepares for a tense and potentially contentious election season.
The RHDP rally was one of the party’s largest events in recent years, signaling the start of a high-stakes political campaign that may see President Ouattara attempt another term despite ongoing debates about constitutional term limits.
