Political developments in Côte d'Ivoire and DRC involve mining crackdowns and opposition arrests

In Côte d'Ivoire, the National Security Council, led by President Alassane Ouattara, has announced a six-month plan to combat illegal gold mining. The council aims to ensure state authority is maintained across all localities to end the practice.

Simultaneously, the ruling RHDP party has filed legal action against Justin Koné Katina, an influential member of the PPA-CI party, alleging defamation, insult, and the spreading of false news.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the political party Ensemble pour la République has condemned the arrest of John Mbangu, the provincial youth league coordinator for Haut-Katanga. The party claims Mbangu was detained in Lubumbashi and is being held by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR).

Ensemble pour la République, led by Moïse Katumbi, criticized the government for a perceived contradiction between calls for national dialogue and the arrest of opposition members.