A man was shot dead by "unidentified individuals" on Monday in southern Ivory Coast during a protest against a fourth term for President Alassane Ouattara, less than two weeks before the presidential election, police announced Tuesday.

The political climate in the country is tense: the candidacies of Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, leaders of the two main opposition parties, have been rejected by the Constitutional Council and any demonstrations challenging the decisions of this body are banned.

The Common Front, which brings together these two parties, the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) and the African People's Party - Côte d'Ivoire (PPA-CI), called on Sunday for demonstrations "every day".

On Monday evening, a 22-year-old man "succumbed to his gunshot wounds" after being "hit in the jaw by a projectile fired by unidentified individuals traveling in a 4x4 vehicle" during a demonstration in Bonoua (south), the national police announced in a statement.

An investigation has been opened, she said.

On Saturday, the Common Front called for a large march in Abidjan, a demonstration banned by the authorities in order to "maintain public order" and which was dispersed with tear gas.

"The freedoms of association, assembly, and demonstration are guaranteed by law," Common Front spokesperson Habiba Touré said in a statement Tuesday, saying the authorities were "endangering social peace."

She also announced the upcoming holding of "a new major national march," without specifying a date.

- "No need for violence" -

On Monday and Tuesday, protest movements - demonstrations or blockades of roads or schools - were observed in some localities, notably in areas where the opposition was historically strong such as Bonoua, Mé (south) or the Gagnoa region (southwest).

In the economic capital, Abidjan, life continued as usual at the start of the week.

Between Saturday and Sunday evening, 710 people were arrested, according to a security source.

On Tuesday, presidential candidate Alassane Ouattara visited the political capital Yamoussoukro, where he met with traditional leaders.

"The election period is essential for our democracy; it is always a sensitive period of unrest and fear," said Mr. Ouattara.

"I want to tell all Ivorians that our democracy does not need violence to express itself," he added, assuring that "everything will be done to guarantee transparent, secure elections that respect the democratic rules of the rule of law."

Although the country has experienced several deadly electoral crises - 3,000 deaths in 2010-2011 and 85 in 2020 - the last local elections took place peacefully.

Four opposition candidates are qualified to challenge the man who has been in power since 2011: former Trade Minister Jean-Louis Billon, a PDCI dissident; two former comrades of Laurent Gbagbo who have broken with him, his ex-wife Simone Ehivet Gbagbo and former minister Ahoua Don Mello; and finally Henriette Lagou, who was already a candidate in 2015.