Ivory Coast: a judicial inquiry opened against Damana Adia Pickass after their arrest
The Public Prosecutor at the Abidjan Court of First Instance announced, on Thursday, November 6, 2025, the opening of a judicial inquiry against Damana Adia, aka “Pickass”, 2nd Vice‑President of the Strategic and Political Council of the African Peoples’ Party–Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI). The associate of former president Laurent Gbagbo is being prosecuted on several counts, including terrorist acts, murder and incitement to insurrection.
SUMMARY
Taken to the Anti‑Terrorism Section of the Abidjan Court of First Instance after his interview by the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST), Damana Pickass was heard in the presence of his lawyer, Maître Roselyne Aka‑Séripka. According to the statement from Prosecutor Koné Braman Oumar, this procedure follows his apprehension on Tuesday, November 4 near Abidjan, in a tense political context in the run‑up to the October 25 presidential election.
Ivorian judicial authorities accuse him of having participated in the organization and coordination of actions described as “insurrectional” within the “Front commun”, a platform bringing together the two main opposition parties, Laurent Gbagbo’s PPA‑CI and Tidjane Thiam’s PDCI. These parties had been excluded from the presidential ballot by the Constitutional Council, a decision that rekindled tensions within the opposition.
A long list of serious charges
The prosecutor’s statement lists particularly serious charges: terrorist acts, murder, interference with electoral operations, contempt and assault on a polling station, participation in a banned demonstration, disturbance of public order, deliberate destruction of property and organization of an armed gang.
If proven, the acts are punishable under several articles of the Ivorian Penal Code and laws related to the repression of terrorism and the illegal possession of weapons. The text also specifies that the accused faces severe penalties provided by articles 5 to 14 of the December 23, 1998 law on the repression of offenses concerning arms regulation, as well as by articles 29, 162, 190, 242, 243, 486 and 493 of the Penal Code.
The case comes as Côte d’Ivoire is experiencing intense political polarization. The victory of outgoing president Alassane Ouattara with nearly 90% of the vote was rejected by part of the opposition, which denounces a “closed and non‑inclusive” election.
Comments