An Ivorian cyberactivist close to the opposition was sentenced on Monday to five years in prison for "incitement to insurrection" and "disturbing public order", AFP learned from his lawyer.

Ibrahim Zigui, who had 600,000 followers on TikTok and 250,000 on Facebook, regularly posted videos critical of the government. He is a supporter of the African People's Party - Ivory Coast (PPA-CI), the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo (2000-2011), now in opposition.

He was also fined 20 million CFA francs (approximately 30,000 euros), according to his lawyer Ange Rodrigue Dadje, who did not wish to comment further on the case.

Mr. Zigui was "abducted" in September 2025, according to his former lawyer and his family who had filed a complaint, a month before a tense presidential election marked by the exclusion of opposition figures including Mr. Gbagbo, arrests and about ten deaths.

He was then taken to the Abidjan prison, with the prosecutor at the time assuring that everyone arrested is subject to regular investigation procedures.

At the end of August 2025, Ibrahim Zigui had called on Ivorians to come out wearing the national team jersey to gather in public places on the day that the Constitutional Council was going to publish the final list of presidential candidates.

During the election year, several dozen activists from opposition parties, sometimes including officials, were arrested or imprisoned.

In addition, hundreds of people accused of participating in banned demonstrations during the campaign have been convicted, notably for "disturbing public order".

On Saturday, in a speech to his supporters, Laurent Gbagbo spoke at length about the imprisoned opposition members.

"We have many comrades in prison. And we must not only think about them, but also work to get them released," he said, before pointing to the particular case of Ibrahim Zigui.

"What exactly is he being accused of? Is he going to stage a coup using social media? No!", declared the former head of state.

In early March, the NGO Amnesty International called for the release of imprisoned opposition members and denounced the arrests as "unfounded," which the Ivorian authorities denied, insisting that there are no prisoners of conscience in the country.